The Dodgers have just announced that Clayton Kershaw will not make another Opening Day start this Sunday in San Diego, as he will be sitting out with back inflammation.
Mr. Greinke, time to step up.
Anytime you see "Kershaw" and "injury" next to each other, it's immediate cause for concern. But, I'm not freaking out over this at all. He said he felt tightness after a workout on Tuesday, and an MRI revealed an inflamed muscle in his upper back.
Not a sore elbow or shoulder. THAT would be cause for concern.
I would hope this means Zack Greinke will get the call instead, as he would be a clear #1 starter on just about every other team in baseball. He skipped the trip to Australia with a sore calf, but that was certainly nothing serious either, so I'd expect to see him go.
But then again, if not, Hyun-Jin Ryu is the next logical option, as he'll be on plenty of rest from pitching the second game against the Diamondbacks. We'll all have to stay tuned to see.
Wednesday, March 26, 2014
Sunday, March 23, 2014
If the season started today (Part II)...
Back on February 16, I took a look at what I believed the 25-man roster would be come Opening Day. Here we are over a month later, and while the Dodgers are 2-0 after winning in Australia, they can still tweak their official roster before next Sunday in San Diego.
Once again, here's my look at my best guess who those 25 men will be.
Rotation:
Clayton Kershaw
Zack Greinke
Hyun-Jin Ryu
Dan Haren
Paul Maholm
Bullpen:
Kenley Jansen
Brian Wilson
Jamey Wright
J.P. Howell
Paco Rodriguez
Chris Perez
Chris Withrow
Brandon League
Starters:
A.J. Ellis
Adrian Gonzalez
Dee Gordon
Hanley Ramirez
Juan Uribe
Carl Crawford
Andre Ethier
Yasiel Puig
Bench:
Tim Federowicz
Scott Van Slyke
Justin Turner
Chone Figgins
15-day DL:
Matt Kemp
Josh Beckett
Chad Billingsley
Who's In: Chris Withrow, Chone Figgins
Who's Out: Alex Guerrero, Josh Beckett
Analysis:
Not a whole lot has changed since my first look. One change had to be Beckett getting placed on the DL, as I had him in the rotation originally. That bumps Maholm up to the rotation, though with the way off days go in early April, who knows if he'll even need to make a start.
Rather than Guerrero starting at second, I really do think he'll end up at Triple-A Albuquerque, while Gordon starts against right-handed pitchers, and Turner against left-handers. Gordon certainly earned more starts with his electric second game, gathering three hits and scoring twice.
Another reason I believe Guerrero will get some seasoning in the minors is because of the continuing transition to second base. As Gordon showed in his start, while he was very good at the plate, he also had an error and failed to cover second on an easy double play ball, which are exactly the types of problems Guerrero has experienced this spring. Let him start everyday at the highest level of the minors, get repetition in the field and at the plate, and look back in about a month and see where he's at. It's a win-win for everyone.
Of the relievers missing out, I don't see Jose Dominguez or Seth Rosin being in LA. Dominguez did himself absolutely no favors with his horrendous outing in the second game. Rosin loses out to the numbers game. So yes, I see League still getting his shot because of his bloated contract, albeit at the very end of the 'pen, at least we can hope.
Figgins has earned his way due to his versatility and veteran presence. I'm not totally sure how the backup catcher role will go, but it's not too big of a deal because Ellis starts practically every game anyway.
Once again, here's my look at my best guess who those 25 men will be.
Rotation:
Clayton Kershaw
Zack Greinke
Hyun-Jin Ryu
Dan Haren
Paul Maholm
Bullpen:
Kenley Jansen
Brian Wilson
Jamey Wright
J.P. Howell
Paco Rodriguez
Chris Perez
Chris Withrow
Brandon League
Starters:
A.J. Ellis
Adrian Gonzalez
Dee Gordon
Hanley Ramirez
Juan Uribe
Carl Crawford
Andre Ethier
Yasiel Puig
Bench:
Tim Federowicz
Scott Van Slyke
Justin Turner
Chone Figgins
15-day DL:
Matt Kemp
Josh Beckett
Chad Billingsley
Who's In: Chris Withrow, Chone Figgins
Who's Out: Alex Guerrero, Josh Beckett
Analysis:
Not a whole lot has changed since my first look. One change had to be Beckett getting placed on the DL, as I had him in the rotation originally. That bumps Maholm up to the rotation, though with the way off days go in early April, who knows if he'll even need to make a start.
Rather than Guerrero starting at second, I really do think he'll end up at Triple-A Albuquerque, while Gordon starts against right-handed pitchers, and Turner against left-handers. Gordon certainly earned more starts with his electric second game, gathering three hits and scoring twice.
Another reason I believe Guerrero will get some seasoning in the minors is because of the continuing transition to second base. As Gordon showed in his start, while he was very good at the plate, he also had an error and failed to cover second on an easy double play ball, which are exactly the types of problems Guerrero has experienced this spring. Let him start everyday at the highest level of the minors, get repetition in the field and at the plate, and look back in about a month and see where he's at. It's a win-win for everyone.
Of the relievers missing out, I don't see Jose Dominguez or Seth Rosin being in LA. Dominguez did himself absolutely no favors with his horrendous outing in the second game. Rosin loses out to the numbers game. So yes, I see League still getting his shot because of his bloated contract, albeit at the very end of the 'pen, at least we can hope.
Figgins has earned his way due to his versatility and veteran presence. I'm not totally sure how the backup catcher role will go, but it's not too big of a deal because Ellis starts practically every game anyway.
Dodgers get the sweep, so what did we learn from Australia?
The Dodgers got the results they wanted in beating the Diamondbacks on Sunday (or Saturday our time), holding on for a 7-5 win despite nearly giving it all away at the end. The bottom line is they're 2-0, and have a chance to get three straight before nearly every other team even plays yet next Sunday in San Diego.
Let's take a look at things we learned from these past couple of games:
* Obviously, the top of the rotation is really, really good. Clayton Kershaw gave up one run in 6 2/3 innings, and Hyun-Jin Ryu was scoreless through five. Zack Greinke didn't even make the trip, so when you throw his name into the mix, that's an awesome top three for any playoff series.
* While I still think the bullpen is a huge strength, the middle relief looks like the weak link. Chris Perez and Brian Wilson were great in the first game, but the parade of relievers on Sunday were not. Chris Withrow (1 walk, 1 hit), Paco Rodriguez (1 walk, 1 hit), Jamey Wright (2 walks, 2 hits, 1 run), J.P. Howell (1 walk), and Jose Dominguez (2 walks, 1 hit, 3 runs) all ranged from bad to awful.
* To defend the relievers just a little bit, I thought home plate umpire Dale Scott had a very tight strike zone, especially late in the game when everyone just wanted to get out of there. The close calls did not go the Dodgers' way. Just thought I'd throw that in there.
* I can understand Don Mattingly wanting Kenley Jansen to face the mighty Mark Trumbo in the ninth inning of the second game, but was a little confused when he expressed how he didn't want Jansen to pitch again. Paul Maholm was the only reliever who appeared to have a clue, as he struck out Miguel Montero for the second out. Why not just leave Maholm in, as the worst that could happen would be a two-run shot? Instead, Jansen got crushed on his first pitch before striking out Gerrardo Parra to end the game. Just seemed a little odd to me.
* Jose Dominguez better keep his bags packed, because there's no way I envision him staying in LA for the start of the real regular season. Yes, he throws hard, but so what? His location was all over the place, and Major League hitters can just sit on his fastball, even in the upper 90s, and tee off. Not a good appearance for him at all.
* For that matter, perhaps Dominguez's ineffectiveness will spell the return of Brandon League. Great...
* Yasiel Puig drama is a story that will never go away. Don Mattingly, along with others, were really pissed at him after the second game. It's a shame, too, because after pulling an 0-for-5 in the first game, he was great hitting in the two-hole the next game, going 3-for-5 with a double and a couple RBIs. But then there were the two outs he ran into on the bases, which is just ridiculous at this point. I bet Mattingly can't wait to get Matt Kemp back if for no other reason to bench Puig when he pulls this crap and still have a great lineup on the field.
* Dee Gordon got the start at second and at leadoff, and boy was he exciting to watch. He's still learning the nuances of playing second with an error and a botched cover to blow a double play, but at the plate, he had three hits with a double and two runs scored. He's earned more playing time, that's for sure.
* The bottom line is just like any team, winning is fun, but there's always some issues to sort out. For the Dodgers, it's Puig and bridging the gap to Jansen in the ninth. They'll be getting some big guns back in Carl Crawford and Grienke once play resumes next week, and hopefully Kemp soon after, so that will be fun to watch. As for Puig, stay tuned. To quote ESPN, it's a "developing story" to say the least.
Let's take a look at things we learned from these past couple of games:
* Obviously, the top of the rotation is really, really good. Clayton Kershaw gave up one run in 6 2/3 innings, and Hyun-Jin Ryu was scoreless through five. Zack Greinke didn't even make the trip, so when you throw his name into the mix, that's an awesome top three for any playoff series.
* While I still think the bullpen is a huge strength, the middle relief looks like the weak link. Chris Perez and Brian Wilson were great in the first game, but the parade of relievers on Sunday were not. Chris Withrow (1 walk, 1 hit), Paco Rodriguez (1 walk, 1 hit), Jamey Wright (2 walks, 2 hits, 1 run), J.P. Howell (1 walk), and Jose Dominguez (2 walks, 1 hit, 3 runs) all ranged from bad to awful.
* To defend the relievers just a little bit, I thought home plate umpire Dale Scott had a very tight strike zone, especially late in the game when everyone just wanted to get out of there. The close calls did not go the Dodgers' way. Just thought I'd throw that in there.
* I can understand Don Mattingly wanting Kenley Jansen to face the mighty Mark Trumbo in the ninth inning of the second game, but was a little confused when he expressed how he didn't want Jansen to pitch again. Paul Maholm was the only reliever who appeared to have a clue, as he struck out Miguel Montero for the second out. Why not just leave Maholm in, as the worst that could happen would be a two-run shot? Instead, Jansen got crushed on his first pitch before striking out Gerrardo Parra to end the game. Just seemed a little odd to me.
* Jose Dominguez better keep his bags packed, because there's no way I envision him staying in LA for the start of the real regular season. Yes, he throws hard, but so what? His location was all over the place, and Major League hitters can just sit on his fastball, even in the upper 90s, and tee off. Not a good appearance for him at all.
* For that matter, perhaps Dominguez's ineffectiveness will spell the return of Brandon League. Great...
* Yasiel Puig drama is a story that will never go away. Don Mattingly, along with others, were really pissed at him after the second game. It's a shame, too, because after pulling an 0-for-5 in the first game, he was great hitting in the two-hole the next game, going 3-for-5 with a double and a couple RBIs. But then there were the two outs he ran into on the bases, which is just ridiculous at this point. I bet Mattingly can't wait to get Matt Kemp back if for no other reason to bench Puig when he pulls this crap and still have a great lineup on the field.
* Dee Gordon got the start at second and at leadoff, and boy was he exciting to watch. He's still learning the nuances of playing second with an error and a botched cover to blow a double play, but at the plate, he had three hits with a double and two runs scored. He's earned more playing time, that's for sure.
* The bottom line is just like any team, winning is fun, but there's always some issues to sort out. For the Dodgers, it's Puig and bridging the gap to Jansen in the ninth. They'll be getting some big guns back in Carl Crawford and Grienke once play resumes next week, and hopefully Kemp soon after, so that will be fun to watch. As for Puig, stay tuned. To quote ESPN, it's a "developing story" to say the least.
Saturday, March 22, 2014
Vintage Kershaw Down Under
The reigning National League Cy Young Award winner says, "You can take that 9.20 spring ERA and shove it!"
If you thought the great Clayton Kershaw was going to get roughed up again like he did in Spring Training, think again. It was a clean Kershaw start, pitching 6 2/3 innings, giving up one run on five hits with seven strikeouts, as the Dodgers beat the Diamondbacks 3-1.
Last year, if you recall, Kershaw spun his magic both on the mound and at the plate in the opening game, as his solo homer was the difference in beating the Giants 1-0. This time around he settled for a single with two strikeouts, and even was gunned down at second trying to stretch that single in the seventh.
About the only time Kershaw was in any sort of trouble was in the first, when the DBacks put two on. Aaron Hill hit a "single" with an out, which in reality should've been an error at short from Hanley Ramirez. Paul Goldschmidt, who's an absolute animal, singled to left right after, but a couple of groundouts got the Dodgers out of trouble.
The lone run came in the sixth on an RBI groundout from Mark Trumbo to score Goldschmidt, who hit a leadoff double.
Another "if you recall" was how the Dodgers had a horrible time for much of last season giving Kershaw any sort of run support, as he only had 16 wins, far fewer than he should've. So, who would be that guy to step up and give the support in this game? Yasiel Puig? Adrian Gonzalez? Ramirez?
Nope. Scott Van Slyke.
Andy's son had a great game, and if it wasn't for some freaky wind conditions, would've ended up with two homers. He instead settled for a double off the left field wall in the second, then made up for it with a two-run shot that just cleared the wall down the right field line in the fourth. That's great for a guy who was only starting because Carl Crawford and Matt Kemp didn't make the trip.
Heck, he would've been back in the States himself if not for the other two being out. It's funny how things work out sometimes.
With both teams stocking up on their relievers thanks to the "exemption" list, Don Mattingly had no problem pulling Kershaw in the seventh at 102 pitches. Chris Perez got the last out on a fly ball to Puig in right.
Then came what should be an awesome late inning combination to watch throughout the year in Brian Wilson and Kenley Jansen. Wilson was perfect in striking out two, and Jansen earned the save with only one walk.
If you were to be told that Kershaw, Perez, Wilson, and Jansen all appeared in the game without knowing to score, I'm guessing you would think the Dodgers won. Sure enough, they did. I'm already excited to keep watching them this year.
We'll wait and see when Kershaw takes the mound next, as the Dodgers open ESPN's Sunday Night Baseball on March 30 in San Diego. Or, he could take the mound in the home opener against the Giants on April 4. Or heck, he could pitch both. If he locates his fastball the way he did today, to go along with his nasty slider, then it doesn't matter who he's facing - they'll be out.
Hyun-Jin Ryu gets the call in the second game, as the Dodgers will look to get greedy and sweep the Australia series. They'll still be the road team.
If you thought the great Clayton Kershaw was going to get roughed up again like he did in Spring Training, think again. It was a clean Kershaw start, pitching 6 2/3 innings, giving up one run on five hits with seven strikeouts, as the Dodgers beat the Diamondbacks 3-1.
Last year, if you recall, Kershaw spun his magic both on the mound and at the plate in the opening game, as his solo homer was the difference in beating the Giants 1-0. This time around he settled for a single with two strikeouts, and even was gunned down at second trying to stretch that single in the seventh.
About the only time Kershaw was in any sort of trouble was in the first, when the DBacks put two on. Aaron Hill hit a "single" with an out, which in reality should've been an error at short from Hanley Ramirez. Paul Goldschmidt, who's an absolute animal, singled to left right after, but a couple of groundouts got the Dodgers out of trouble.
The lone run came in the sixth on an RBI groundout from Mark Trumbo to score Goldschmidt, who hit a leadoff double.
Another "if you recall" was how the Dodgers had a horrible time for much of last season giving Kershaw any sort of run support, as he only had 16 wins, far fewer than he should've. So, who would be that guy to step up and give the support in this game? Yasiel Puig? Adrian Gonzalez? Ramirez?
Nope. Scott Van Slyke.
Andy's son had a great game, and if it wasn't for some freaky wind conditions, would've ended up with two homers. He instead settled for a double off the left field wall in the second, then made up for it with a two-run shot that just cleared the wall down the right field line in the fourth. That's great for a guy who was only starting because Carl Crawford and Matt Kemp didn't make the trip.
Heck, he would've been back in the States himself if not for the other two being out. It's funny how things work out sometimes.
With both teams stocking up on their relievers thanks to the "exemption" list, Don Mattingly had no problem pulling Kershaw in the seventh at 102 pitches. Chris Perez got the last out on a fly ball to Puig in right.
Then came what should be an awesome late inning combination to watch throughout the year in Brian Wilson and Kenley Jansen. Wilson was perfect in striking out two, and Jansen earned the save with only one walk.
If you were to be told that Kershaw, Perez, Wilson, and Jansen all appeared in the game without knowing to score, I'm guessing you would think the Dodgers won. Sure enough, they did. I'm already excited to keep watching them this year.
We'll wait and see when Kershaw takes the mound next, as the Dodgers open ESPN's Sunday Night Baseball on March 30 in San Diego. Or, he could take the mound in the home opener against the Giants on April 4. Or heck, he could pitch both. If he locates his fastball the way he did today, to go along with his nasty slider, then it doesn't matter who he's facing - they'll be out.
Hyun-Jin Ryu gets the call in the second game, as the Dodgers will look to get greedy and sweep the Australia series. They'll still be the road team.
Thursday, March 20, 2014
Gordon could be leading off come Saturday
If you're really into studying Don Mattingly's lineup against Team Australia, then perhaps the leadoff hitter for Saturday is someone we didn't exactly think of.
Dee Gordon led off and played second base today, not Yasiel Puig, who hit right behind him. Throw in the fact that Carl Crawford didn't even make the trip, and as unlikely as this was amid all the hoopla of the Alex Guerrero signing, Gordon could very well be the man at the top of the order.
I wrote about Gordon's resurgence about a week ago (here's my proof), and I speculated that he'd hit eighth. At least for today's exhibition game, Mattingly likes the idea of Gordon and Puig at the top, followed by Hanley Ramirez, Adrian Gonzalez, Andre Ethier, Juan Uribe, Scott Van Slyke, and A.J. Ellis. Since the left-handed Patrick Corbin of the Diamondbacks has been scratched because of a possible season-ending elbow injury, two right-handed pitchers will start in Wade Miley and Trevor Cahill. It's not hard to see today's lineup carrying over to the weekend.
And you know what? Why not? I'm all for Gordon getting a chance at the top. He hit .286 this spring with a .326 OBP. Of his 12 hits, four were triples, and he was a perfect 9-9 in stolen base attempts. I'm pretty sure that's the type of guy who's earned a chance at leading off.
Keep in mind that the Dodgers and Diamondbacks play two games, so if Gordon stinks in the first game by going 0-for-5, then Mattingly can easily put Puig leading off and drop Gordon to second or eighth. It's obviously way early in the season (duh), so it's time to see if Gordon can handle the load.
On the flip side, what does this mean for Guerrero? Well, he could sneak in as the last roster spot, or it could be off to Triple-A to start everyday at second and sharpen his defense as he's still trying to transition from a year off and as a primary shortstop. That's not a bad thing, as it could very well pay off for him in the future.
Dee Gordon led off and played second base today, not Yasiel Puig, who hit right behind him. Throw in the fact that Carl Crawford didn't even make the trip, and as unlikely as this was amid all the hoopla of the Alex Guerrero signing, Gordon could very well be the man at the top of the order.
I wrote about Gordon's resurgence about a week ago (here's my proof), and I speculated that he'd hit eighth. At least for today's exhibition game, Mattingly likes the idea of Gordon and Puig at the top, followed by Hanley Ramirez, Adrian Gonzalez, Andre Ethier, Juan Uribe, Scott Van Slyke, and A.J. Ellis. Since the left-handed Patrick Corbin of the Diamondbacks has been scratched because of a possible season-ending elbow injury, two right-handed pitchers will start in Wade Miley and Trevor Cahill. It's not hard to see today's lineup carrying over to the weekend.
And you know what? Why not? I'm all for Gordon getting a chance at the top. He hit .286 this spring with a .326 OBP. Of his 12 hits, four were triples, and he was a perfect 9-9 in stolen base attempts. I'm pretty sure that's the type of guy who's earned a chance at leading off.
Keep in mind that the Dodgers and Diamondbacks play two games, so if Gordon stinks in the first game by going 0-for-5, then Mattingly can easily put Puig leading off and drop Gordon to second or eighth. It's obviously way early in the season (duh), so it's time to see if Gordon can handle the load.
On the flip side, what does this mean for Guerrero? Well, he could sneak in as the last roster spot, or it could be off to Triple-A to start everyday at second and sharpen his defense as he's still trying to transition from a year off and as a primary shortstop. That's not a bad thing, as it could very well pay off for him in the future.
Monday, March 17, 2014
30-man Australia roster is set
*** UPDATE ***
To check out the 25-man roster for the two-game set in Australia, scroll down a bit and look at the lineup on the right side where it's all spelled out for you.
***
The Dodgers have until Friday to set their 25-man roster for the first couple of games Down Under, but for now, here's a look at the 30 men who made the trip overseas:
Catchers
A.J. Ellis
Tim Federowicz
Drew Butera
Infielders
Adrian Gonzalez
Hanley Ramirez
Juan Uribe
Dee Gordon
Alex Guerrero
Miguel Rojas
Chone Figgins
Justin Turner
Outfielders
Andre Ethier
Yasiel Puig
Scott Van Slyke
Joc Pederson
Mike Baxter
Starters
Clayton Kershaw
Hyun-Jin Ryu
Paul Maholm
Bullpen
Kenley Jansen
Brian Wilson
J.P. Howell
Paco Rodriguez
Jamey Wright
Chris Perez
Seth Rosin
Chris Withrow
Jose Dominguez
Zach Lee
Red Patterson
If I had to venture a guess as to the five who will NOT be on the final roster, I would go with Patterson, Lee, Baxter, Rojas, and Maholm.
Despite the rocky spring from Kershaw, you can still see him giving at least 6-7 innings in the first game, and Ryu can easily give the same. So, they might only need 4-6 innings of bullpen work between the two games, which is why I see a couple names, if not more, slashed off the bullpen list.
Maholm is only there in case of an emergency to Kershaw or Ryu. Assuming those two stay healthy (please let them stay healthy!), then Wright can handle the long relief role, and Maholm won't be needed.
As for Rojas and Baxter getting off my list, that's more of a toss up than anything. I thought maybe Butera would be left off, but maybe carrying that extra catcher isn't a bad idea. Someone like Figgins is capable of playing in the outfield as well, so there's any extra body to play multiple positions if necessary.
To check out the 25-man roster for the two-game set in Australia, scroll down a bit and look at the lineup on the right side where it's all spelled out for you.
***
The Dodgers have until Friday to set their 25-man roster for the first couple of games Down Under, but for now, here's a look at the 30 men who made the trip overseas:
Catchers
A.J. Ellis
Tim Federowicz
Drew Butera
Infielders
Adrian Gonzalez
Hanley Ramirez
Juan Uribe
Dee Gordon
Alex Guerrero
Miguel Rojas
Chone Figgins
Justin Turner
Outfielders
Andre Ethier
Yasiel Puig
Scott Van Slyke
Joc Pederson
Mike Baxter
Starters
Clayton Kershaw
Hyun-Jin Ryu
Paul Maholm
Bullpen
Kenley Jansen
Brian Wilson
J.P. Howell
Paco Rodriguez
Jamey Wright
Chris Perez
Seth Rosin
Chris Withrow
Jose Dominguez
Zach Lee
Red Patterson
If I had to venture a guess as to the five who will NOT be on the final roster, I would go with Patterson, Lee, Baxter, Rojas, and Maholm.
Despite the rocky spring from Kershaw, you can still see him giving at least 6-7 innings in the first game, and Ryu can easily give the same. So, they might only need 4-6 innings of bullpen work between the two games, which is why I see a couple names, if not more, slashed off the bullpen list.
Maholm is only there in case of an emergency to Kershaw or Ryu. Assuming those two stay healthy (please let them stay healthy!), then Wright can handle the long relief role, and Maholm won't be needed.
As for Rojas and Baxter getting off my list, that's more of a toss up than anything. I thought maybe Butera would be left off, but maybe carrying that extra catcher isn't a bad idea. Someone like Figgins is capable of playing in the outfield as well, so there's any extra body to play multiple positions if necessary.
Saturday, March 15, 2014
Add Crawford to the "not going" list for Australia
The list of stars not going to Australia is starting to pile up for the Dodgers. In addition to Matt Kemp (ankle), Zack Greinke (calf), and Dan Haren (not being used), Carl Crawford becomes the latest member to join the growing list.
The reason Crawford is staying back isn't because of injury, it's actually a good one: he's about to become a father for the third time. His fiance Evelyn Lozada is due any day now. Congratulations to the both of them on their birth of their first child (Crawford already has two).
For this two-game set, the rosters aren't the typical 25-man one used during the regular season back home. Instead, both the Dodgers and Diamondbacks are allowed to carry a few extra players (I believe up to 30, though I'm not positive on that). Those "reserve" players can only appear via an injury to someone on the "regular" roster, and that injury must result in a DL stint... I think.
Forgive me, the rules seem pretty confusing, but I'm fairly certain this is what I've read over the past few weeks.
When it's all said and done, it's looking like the other outfielder with Yasiel Puig and Andre Ethier will be Scott Van Slyke. As Mark Saxon of ESPNLosAngeles.com points out, that will also mean the Dodgers will bring a couple of extra outfielders, such as Mike Baxter, Joc Pederson, or Nick Buss.
I think it will be interesting to see if Don Mattingly gives the start to the lefty Pederson in the second game against right-handed Trevor Cahill of the DBacks. With the way the outfielders get hurt, and with the tremendous talent of Pederson, it could be a glimpse into the future if they go that route. We will see.
The reason Crawford is staying back isn't because of injury, it's actually a good one: he's about to become a father for the third time. His fiance Evelyn Lozada is due any day now. Congratulations to the both of them on their birth of their first child (Crawford already has two).
For this two-game set, the rosters aren't the typical 25-man one used during the regular season back home. Instead, both the Dodgers and Diamondbacks are allowed to carry a few extra players (I believe up to 30, though I'm not positive on that). Those "reserve" players can only appear via an injury to someone on the "regular" roster, and that injury must result in a DL stint... I think.
Forgive me, the rules seem pretty confusing, but I'm fairly certain this is what I've read over the past few weeks.
When it's all said and done, it's looking like the other outfielder with Yasiel Puig and Andre Ethier will be Scott Van Slyke. As Mark Saxon of ESPNLosAngeles.com points out, that will also mean the Dodgers will bring a couple of extra outfielders, such as Mike Baxter, Joc Pederson, or Nick Buss.
I think it will be interesting to see if Don Mattingly gives the start to the lefty Pederson in the second game against right-handed Trevor Cahill of the DBacks. With the way the outfielders get hurt, and with the tremendous talent of Pederson, it could be a glimpse into the future if they go that route. We will see.
Tuesday, March 11, 2014
I like Van Slyke backing up first
Random thought here, but I really like the idea of using Scott Van Slyke backing up first base. It's a good use of his abilities, and hopefully gets him to stick around LA permanently.
This is something I would bring up on occasion last season. Rather than dangling him up and down between LA and Albuquerque like a freakin' yo-yo, why not find another position like first base to go along with outfield, keeping his powerful bat on the bench to hit late in games and provide spot starts? It's a win-win for everyone.
In looking at the Dodgers' official website, he's listed as 6'5'' and 250 pounds. In comparing him to the rest of the 40-man roster, only Jamey Wright and Seth Rosin stand taller at 6'6", and Hyun-Jin Ryu weighs more at 255. Of course, take all of this with a grain of salt, especially since Ryu looks lighter and has said so himself, though he wouldn't elaborate on just how many pounds he's shed.
Because of how big of a dude he is, first base seems like a natural fit, something that hasn't been lost on the Dodgers this spring. I'm glad to see it happening.
As of now, the Dodgers have put him in both left and right field, along with a handful of appearances at first this spring. With all of the loses the Dodgers have suffered from their 2013 bench (Schumaker, Punto, Young, Hairston), I think Van Slyke lines up perfectly as one of the guys to take over the bench role and spot starting duty.
Let's also remember, too, that Adrian Gonzalez isn't getting any younger. He'll turn 32 in May, has played in 1,333 games, and had major shoulder surgery not too long ago. He held up incredibly well last season by appearing in all but five games while putting up 100 RBIs. I'm certainly not saying he's ready to break down, but I'm not so sure we should expect 157 games out of him again.
I'd like to see Don Mattingly start sprinkling in some starts for Van Slyke at first during the year. It would obviously come against lefties, as A-Gon hit .273 against them, compared to .303 against righties. There's already a log jam in the outfield once Matt Kemp comes back, so get Van Slyke comfortable playing first every now and then. It gives A-Gon some extra rest, and gets a home run threat like Van Slyke more playing time. Make it happen.
Thursday, March 6, 2014
It's looking like Kershaw and Ryu in Australia
*** UPDATE ***
It's official. Don Mattingly will give the ball to Clayton Kershaw in the first game, then to Hyun-Jin Ryu in the next. Should be fun.
***
First Zack Greinke complained about having no fun in Australia. Then he left a start after four pitches due to a strained calf muscle.
Complaining + injury = no trip Down Under.
While Don Mattingly has not made it official, it's sure looking like Clayton Kershaw and Hyun-Jin Ryu will get the nod in the two-game set against the Diamondbacks in Australia. Greinke probably won't even make the trip, which is just fine with him, I'm sure.
When you're scouting the Diamondbacks, you immediately start with the mighty Paul Goldschmidt, who had a monster 2013 by hitting .302 with 36 homers and 125 RBI. He's also a right-handed hitter, so naturally you wish the right-handed Greinke could match up with him instead of the two southpaws.
Granted, Kershaw and Ryu are not your typical lefties, so it's probably all a wash in the end.
Because of the quirkiness of this trip, both teams are allowed to carry 30 roster members with them in case of injury to the top 25. Again, nothing is confirmed, but it's looking like Dan Haren will go on the trip, along with Matt "Ball Four" Magill to pitch in an exhibition game against Team Australia two days before the opener.
It's official. Don Mattingly will give the ball to Clayton Kershaw in the first game, then to Hyun-Jin Ryu in the next. Should be fun.
***
First Zack Greinke complained about having no fun in Australia. Then he left a start after four pitches due to a strained calf muscle.
Complaining + injury = no trip Down Under.
While Don Mattingly has not made it official, it's sure looking like Clayton Kershaw and Hyun-Jin Ryu will get the nod in the two-game set against the Diamondbacks in Australia. Greinke probably won't even make the trip, which is just fine with him, I'm sure.
When you're scouting the Diamondbacks, you immediately start with the mighty Paul Goldschmidt, who had a monster 2013 by hitting .302 with 36 homers and 125 RBI. He's also a right-handed hitter, so naturally you wish the right-handed Greinke could match up with him instead of the two southpaws.
Granted, Kershaw and Ryu are not your typical lefties, so it's probably all a wash in the end.
Because of the quirkiness of this trip, both teams are allowed to carry 30 roster members with them in case of injury to the top 25. Again, nothing is confirmed, but it's looking like Dan Haren will go on the trip, along with Matt "Ball Four" Magill to pitch in an exhibition game against Team Australia two days before the opener.
Wednesday, March 5, 2014
Gordon's second wind
As I sit here waiting for the Dodgers to take on the Reds in some Spring Training action (thanks, MLB Network, for giving this guy from New York some Dodger Love), one thing is starting to hit me more and more: the Dodgers really like Dee Gordon.
How much? I wouldn't be surprised to see him start the season at second base, while Alexander Guerrero is sent to Triple-A for some seasoning.
The reason is two-fold. Gordon is really starting to earn it. We've heard about how he spent the offseason "bulking up." I'm guessing we'll never know how many pounds he added on considering I've read both 13 and 29. (If you really want a laugh, click on his fantasy news on his player profile over at MLB.com and you'll see what I'm talking about. Talk about confusing...)
While he's only 3-for-12 in the early going, one possible benefit of "bulking up" is that two of those hits were triples in the same game. That's something you can assume wouldn't have happened last season. He also has driven in three runs, walked once, and only struck out once. Not bad.
The other reason is because Guerrero has yet to really take the bull by the horns and claim second as his. You know what? That's OK. I'm sure he's just trying to figure everything out still and putting too much pressure on himself. He's the long-term answer anyway, not to mention trying to convert from shortstop, so give him time to get it together. He will.
Gordon is just about to enter his prime as he turns 26 in April. He's played in 71 games over the past five seasons, and though you may have forgotten, he actually was on the playoff roster last postseason, albeit in strictly a pinch-running role. So it's not like he hasn't been around big games before.
In addition to being a toothpick, one that would never hold up over the course of a long big league season, his defense has ranged anywhere from bad to atrocious. Well, he sure looks like he's been doing something about that, as he made a couple of very nice plays from second in a loss against the Mariners on Tuesday. He also spent the Domincan winter league playing center field, a very smart move on everyone's part.
Perhaps a bit lost in all of the offseason headlines about Clayton Kershaw's enormous contract, Matt Kemp's injuries, and Brian Wilson's hair was the fact that the Dodgers lost pretty much all of their utility players off the bench in Nick Punto, Skip Schumaker, Michael Young, and Jerry Hairston. Gordon could be the perfect type of guy to fill one of those roles.
Better yet, he could start the year at second, show off his improved skills at a position more suited to his skills, and make an impact hitting eighth. Let's say he starts sprinkling in some gappers to go with all of that speed. He could have some big games.
I think now is the time to be excited about what he brings to the table. His career could not have started off any better, which was right before it got a whole lot worse. If he keeps playing this well the next couple of weeks, don't be surprised to see his name in the starting lineup against the Diamondbacks in Australia.
Let's just call it "Flash, Part II."
Thursday, February 27, 2014
Not exactly the greatest start to spring for the two aces
Yes, I know it's just Spring Training. And yes, I know these games don't count for anything.
With that said, I'm guessing the Dodgers' brass was hoping for something a little better than what they got out of Clayton Kershaw and Zack Greinke through two games.
Kershaw got the start on Wednesday against the Diamondbacks, and gave up three runs over two innings. Working mostly on locating his fastball, with some off-speed stuff mixed in, the big blows came in the first on an RBI double from Martin Prado, and in the second on an RBI triple from A.J. Pollack, followed by a run-scoring single by Aaron Hill.
What should be pointed out is that Carl Crawford had just as much to do with Kershaw's bad day as anyone else. The "triple" by Pollack was actually a liner that Crawford came in on, then watched it sail over his head. How in the world that was ruled a hit I have no clue. That would have been the final out, so really only one of those runs was earned.
Still, the Dodgers had to feel good about sending Ace 1A in Greinke to the mound today... then watched him exit after four pitches. That's right - four whole pitches. The reason was a strained right calf, which was described as mild at best. Of course, it's all about protecting the players this early in the season, so taking extreme caution is the right route to go.
Greinke recently made waves by saying he has "absolutely zero excitement" about the upcoming Australia trip, but tried to backtrack on that today. Whether he wants to pitch there or not might not matter anymore, as I can see the Dodgers letting Kershaw and maybe Hyun-Jin Ryu or Dan Haren pitch instead. It's possible Greinke wakes up Friday morning, feels great, and is good to go for the second game Down Under, so we'll have to wait and see.
On a side note, the Dodgers are 1-1 in the early going.
With that said, I'm guessing the Dodgers' brass was hoping for something a little better than what they got out of Clayton Kershaw and Zack Greinke through two games.
Kershaw got the start on Wednesday against the Diamondbacks, and gave up three runs over two innings. Working mostly on locating his fastball, with some off-speed stuff mixed in, the big blows came in the first on an RBI double from Martin Prado, and in the second on an RBI triple from A.J. Pollack, followed by a run-scoring single by Aaron Hill.
What should be pointed out is that Carl Crawford had just as much to do with Kershaw's bad day as anyone else. The "triple" by Pollack was actually a liner that Crawford came in on, then watched it sail over his head. How in the world that was ruled a hit I have no clue. That would have been the final out, so really only one of those runs was earned.
Still, the Dodgers had to feel good about sending Ace 1A in Greinke to the mound today... then watched him exit after four pitches. That's right - four whole pitches. The reason was a strained right calf, which was described as mild at best. Of course, it's all about protecting the players this early in the season, so taking extreme caution is the right route to go.
Greinke recently made waves by saying he has "absolutely zero excitement" about the upcoming Australia trip, but tried to backtrack on that today. Whether he wants to pitch there or not might not matter anymore, as I can see the Dodgers letting Kershaw and maybe Hyun-Jin Ryu or Dan Haren pitch instead. It's possible Greinke wakes up Friday morning, feels great, and is good to go for the second game Down Under, so we'll have to wait and see.
On a side note, the Dodgers are 1-1 in the early going.
Sunday, February 23, 2014
Signing Arruebarrena sends a message
The Dodgers have officially inked Cuban shortstop Erisbel Arruebarrena to a five-year, $25 million deal on Saturday, with a $7.5 million signing bonus. He's still in the Dominican Republic working on getting his visa, then is expected to start the season somewhere in the minors.
After that? It's full speed ahead in LA and into the future.
Ned Colletti made no bones about it - he sees Arruebarrena as the starting shortstop of the future. The praise for his defense has been high, and he also brings some pop with his bat. It's acknowledged that his offense does need some work, but they're hoping he can hold his own at the Major League level while providing great defense up the middle.
So, what's the message that is being sent? It pertains to Hanley Ramirez. He needs to prove he can stay healthy over the full course of a season in order to get the extension he's looking for, and he needs to be willing to move to third in a year or two.
As great as Ramirez has been since becoming a Dodger towards the end of 2012, he definitely has had his injury issues (thumb, hamstring, back, ribs...). I can certainly understand his desire to get a huge deal worked out, but from the Dodgers' point of view, that will only happen if he spends more time on the diamond and less in the trainer's room.
Juan Uribe is currently etched in at third for the next two seasons, but that doesn't mean it will stay that way. Suppose Uribe goes back to his old ways of... well, doing a big pile of nothing. Then it's not out of the question to see Ramirez slide over to third, while Arruebarrena becomes the everyday shortstop.
If Colletti is serious about promoting Arruebarrena to the big club sometime in 2014, then his signing is also a message to Uribe, so has been benched plenty of times in the past. Is it possible to see an all international infield of Ramirez, Arreubarrena, Alexander Guerrero, and Adrian Gonzalez starting in the playoffs? It certainly could be.
On a side note, in order to make this signing official, someone had to be the odd man out on the 40-man roster. That guy is Justin Sellers, who went from starting shortstop in 2013 to DFA'd a year later. Ouch. Unfortunately, it's really not a surprise. He simply never showed an ability to hit Major League pitching, so it's the right call.
After that? It's full speed ahead in LA and into the future.
Ned Colletti made no bones about it - he sees Arruebarrena as the starting shortstop of the future. The praise for his defense has been high, and he also brings some pop with his bat. It's acknowledged that his offense does need some work, but they're hoping he can hold his own at the Major League level while providing great defense up the middle.
So, what's the message that is being sent? It pertains to Hanley Ramirez. He needs to prove he can stay healthy over the full course of a season in order to get the extension he's looking for, and he needs to be willing to move to third in a year or two.
As great as Ramirez has been since becoming a Dodger towards the end of 2012, he definitely has had his injury issues (thumb, hamstring, back, ribs...). I can certainly understand his desire to get a huge deal worked out, but from the Dodgers' point of view, that will only happen if he spends more time on the diamond and less in the trainer's room.
Juan Uribe is currently etched in at third for the next two seasons, but that doesn't mean it will stay that way. Suppose Uribe goes back to his old ways of... well, doing a big pile of nothing. Then it's not out of the question to see Ramirez slide over to third, while Arruebarrena becomes the everyday shortstop.
If Colletti is serious about promoting Arruebarrena to the big club sometime in 2014, then his signing is also a message to Uribe, so has been benched plenty of times in the past. Is it possible to see an all international infield of Ramirez, Arreubarrena, Alexander Guerrero, and Adrian Gonzalez starting in the playoffs? It certainly could be.
On a side note, in order to make this signing official, someone had to be the odd man out on the 40-man roster. That guy is Justin Sellers, who went from starting shortstop in 2013 to DFA'd a year later. Ouch. Unfortunately, it's really not a surprise. He simply never showed an ability to hit Major League pitching, so it's the right call.
Sunday, February 16, 2014
If the season started today...
Here is my early look at what I believe the 25-man roster will be come March 22 in Australia.
Rotation:
Clayton Kershaw
Zack Greinke
Hyun-Jin Ryu
Dan Haren
Josh Beckett
Bullpen:
Kenley Jansen
Brian Wilson
J.P. Howell
Paco Rodriguez
Chris Perez
Brandon League
Jamey Wright
Paul Maholm
Starters:
A.J. Ellis
Adrian Gonzalez
Alexander Guerrero
Hanley Ramirez
Juan Uribe
Yasiel Puig
Andre Ethier
Carl Crawford
Bench:
Tim Federowicz
Dee Gordon
Scott Van Slyke
Justin Turner
DL:
Matt Kemp
Chad Billingsley
Missing Out:
Chris Withrow
Jose Dominguez
Chone Figgins
Miguel Rojas
Justin Sellers
Drew Butera
Analysis:
I'll go with Kemp on the DL for now, as he's all but said to cross him off the active list for the two games in Australia against the Diamondbacks. That will leave room for Van Slyke to be the primary sub.
I think Gordon's versatility and speed, along with recent reports of bulking up a bit, make him the ultimate utility man right now. I think that's a role he can thrive in, as long as he doesn't throw the ball all over the place. I'll give a slight edge to Turner over Figgins for that other utility role, if for no other reason than Turner has youth, which is something Ned Colletti said he wanted to focus on off the bench for this season.
As usual, the back end of the rotation is a question mark for now. But as we all remember from last year, that can and probably will quickly change. I'll go with Haren and Beckett as the 4-5 starters, with Maholm biding his time in the bullpen. The only tricky thing is that Wright is the clear-cut long reliever, so they really don't need two. We'll have to keep an eye on Beckett's health, because if he can't go or needs more time, that's an easy DL decision.
I have to begrudgingly list League as part of the 'pen, only because of that damn contract. It would be nice to see someone like Withrow or Dominguez get the nod if one of them clearly outperforms League, and for the Dodgers to cut their ties. We'll see.
This will be something I'll take another look at at least one more time before the games start in March, so stay tuned.
Rotation:
Clayton Kershaw
Zack Greinke
Hyun-Jin Ryu
Dan Haren
Josh Beckett
Bullpen:
Kenley Jansen
Brian Wilson
J.P. Howell
Paco Rodriguez
Chris Perez
Brandon League
Jamey Wright
Paul Maholm
Starters:
A.J. Ellis
Adrian Gonzalez
Alexander Guerrero
Hanley Ramirez
Juan Uribe
Yasiel Puig
Andre Ethier
Carl Crawford
Bench:
Tim Federowicz
Dee Gordon
Scott Van Slyke
Justin Turner
DL:
Matt Kemp
Chad Billingsley
Missing Out:
Chris Withrow
Jose Dominguez
Chone Figgins
Miguel Rojas
Justin Sellers
Drew Butera
Analysis:
I'll go with Kemp on the DL for now, as he's all but said to cross him off the active list for the two games in Australia against the Diamondbacks. That will leave room for Van Slyke to be the primary sub.
I think Gordon's versatility and speed, along with recent reports of bulking up a bit, make him the ultimate utility man right now. I think that's a role he can thrive in, as long as he doesn't throw the ball all over the place. I'll give a slight edge to Turner over Figgins for that other utility role, if for no other reason than Turner has youth, which is something Ned Colletti said he wanted to focus on off the bench for this season.
As usual, the back end of the rotation is a question mark for now. But as we all remember from last year, that can and probably will quickly change. I'll go with Haren and Beckett as the 4-5 starters, with Maholm biding his time in the bullpen. The only tricky thing is that Wright is the clear-cut long reliever, so they really don't need two. We'll have to keep an eye on Beckett's health, because if he can't go or needs more time, that's an easy DL decision.
I have to begrudgingly list League as part of the 'pen, only because of that damn contract. It would be nice to see someone like Withrow or Dominguez get the nod if one of them clearly outperforms League, and for the Dodgers to cut their ties. We'll see.
This will be something I'll take another look at at least one more time before the games start in March, so stay tuned.
Friday, February 14, 2014
Despite signing Guerrero, 2nd base looks wide open
Perhaps the Dodgers aren't ready to just hand Alexander Guerrero the everyday job at second right away?
It sure looks that way based on recent quotes from Don Mattingly. While the Dodgers eventually see Guerrero as the guy, especially since he's armed with a four-year, $28 million contract, Mattingly acknowledged on Thursday that he's not ready to declare Guerrero the "everyday guy" quite yet.
The word on Guerrero is pretty simple - he's a great hitter, but will be a work-in-progress with the glove at second. He's been a shortstop in Cuba before defecting to the US in 2013, and the transition to second isn't as smooth as people may think. When you're so used to pivots and angles of fielding and throwing from one side of the diamond, it can be pretty tricky to adjust all of that to another.
So if Guerrero is slow to pick up the nuances of second, whom do the Dodgers turn to?
The list is quite long, and it starts with old friend Dee Gordon. Once looked at as the primary leadoff hitter and shortstop for years to come, ineffectiveness at the plate, with his glove, and injuries have all made him an afterthought.
The good news is that he's tacked on about 30 pounds on his wiry frame, from 150 to 179. He still has plenty of speed, so that will never change. He also has spent time working in the outfield, which is smart because at the very least, he can be quite the utility player and super-sub if he shows the ability to handle multiple positions.
There are a few other names to keep in mind as Spring Training gets underway. Justin Turner is a former Met who hit .280 in 86 games last year. I can see him making a push to replace Nick Punto as a utility infielder.
Justin Sellers broke camp last year as the starting shortstop after an injury to Hanley Ramirez, and horrible play from Gordon. He then proceeded to hit .188 and earn his way back to Albuquerque. By the way, the link above is worth clicking because he's hilariously referred to as "Justin Fellers" in the article. Poor guy!
The remaining two names are Miguel Rojas, who came over from the Reds, and Chone Figgins, who's 36 and looking to make one last push. Never say never, but I wouldn't count on either one of them.
The race to start at second will be a big battle to watch in Spring Training, along with juggling four outfielders and filling out the back end of the rotation. Let's see how it all plays out.
It sure looks that way based on recent quotes from Don Mattingly. While the Dodgers eventually see Guerrero as the guy, especially since he's armed with a four-year, $28 million contract, Mattingly acknowledged on Thursday that he's not ready to declare Guerrero the "everyday guy" quite yet.
The word on Guerrero is pretty simple - he's a great hitter, but will be a work-in-progress with the glove at second. He's been a shortstop in Cuba before defecting to the US in 2013, and the transition to second isn't as smooth as people may think. When you're so used to pivots and angles of fielding and throwing from one side of the diamond, it can be pretty tricky to adjust all of that to another.
So if Guerrero is slow to pick up the nuances of second, whom do the Dodgers turn to?
The list is quite long, and it starts with old friend Dee Gordon. Once looked at as the primary leadoff hitter and shortstop for years to come, ineffectiveness at the plate, with his glove, and injuries have all made him an afterthought.
The good news is that he's tacked on about 30 pounds on his wiry frame, from 150 to 179. He still has plenty of speed, so that will never change. He also has spent time working in the outfield, which is smart because at the very least, he can be quite the utility player and super-sub if he shows the ability to handle multiple positions.
There are a few other names to keep in mind as Spring Training gets underway. Justin Turner is a former Met who hit .280 in 86 games last year. I can see him making a push to replace Nick Punto as a utility infielder.
Justin Sellers broke camp last year as the starting shortstop after an injury to Hanley Ramirez, and horrible play from Gordon. He then proceeded to hit .188 and earn his way back to Albuquerque. By the way, the link above is worth clicking because he's hilariously referred to as "Justin Fellers" in the article. Poor guy!
The remaining two names are Miguel Rojas, who came over from the Reds, and Chone Figgins, who's 36 and looking to make one last push. Never say never, but I wouldn't count on either one of them.
The race to start at second will be a big battle to watch in Spring Training, along with juggling four outfielders and filling out the back end of the rotation. Let's see how it all plays out.
Sunday, February 9, 2014
The leadoff debate: Crawford vs. Puig
Don Mattingly has gone on record about his desire to put Yasiel Puig in the leadoff spot, dropping Carl Crawford to the #2 hole. While nothing is set in stone yet, Mattingly likes the balance of right-left-right-left at the top of the order, with Puig, Crawford, Hanley Ramirez, and Adrian Gonzalez leading the way.
With that in mind, let's take a look at the pros and cons of making the switch.
Pros:
At this point before the start of Spring Training, I'd make the switch, but only by keeping a close eye on Puig's discipline at the plate throughout February and March. You never want to tell a guy like Puig to totally change his approach just because he's leading off, but he can't be the guy who swings for the fences on every pitch and expect consistent production.
If this was the Crawford of just a few seasons ago, then I don't think Mattingly would even think about doing this. But as I said above, you can't ignore what injuries and Father Time has done to Crawford. It's not like he's a station to station runner, but don't expect to ever see the Crawford circa Tampa Bay days again.
If I'm an opposing pitcher, I would much rather see Crawford leading off than Puig, simply for the fear that Puig puts into you every time he's up. What pitcher wants to start the game by watching a long blast or a ball drilled to the gap? That's what Puig can bring, along with his aggressiveness on the bases. Crawford can still make things happen, especially if he can prove he's healthy, but not like the young, fresher Puig.
Of course, if Puig isn't getting on base, then I can see Mattingly deciding the leadoff hitter based on the opposing pitcher. If it's a lefty, then it's Puig, and vice versa for a righty.
With that in mind, let's take a look at the pros and cons of making the switch.
Pros:
- Puig had 108 at-bats in the leadoff role last season, hitting .333 with a .409 OBP, both very good numbers.
- Puig also had 8 of his 19 homers in the leadoff spot. Having power at the top of the lineup is obviously an impactful way to set the tone.
- Crawford is a long ways away from his mega-stolen base days. Last season he only had 15. He peaked at 60 in 2010 with the Rays, and was consistently in the 50-60 range for years.
- Crawford would be much better at situational bunting, as Puig bunts to get base hits. I'm not sure Puig knows what a sacrifice bunt even is.
- Crawford has had Tommy John surgery, and more important to a base stealer, hamstring injuries. It's hard to think he'll ever be the same dynamic runner again.
- While Puig had great numbers leading off, Crawford actually did as well with a much bigger sample size. In 359 at-bats, he hit .304 with a .353 OBP.
- Crawford doesn't have the power of Puig, of course, but he did hit 5 homers, 2 triples, and 27 doubles leading off to provide a decent amount of pop.
- Crawford struck out 66 times in 435 at-bats last season; Puig had 97 in 382. You do the math.
- Neither one of them likes to walk much: Crawford 28, Puig 36. So flip a coin.
- Puig is still very raw in many ways. If the game is tight in the last inning and Puig is leading off, will he try to get on base, or be swinging for the fences? I would guess the latter, so Crawford might be trusted a little more in that situation.
At this point before the start of Spring Training, I'd make the switch, but only by keeping a close eye on Puig's discipline at the plate throughout February and March. You never want to tell a guy like Puig to totally change his approach just because he's leading off, but he can't be the guy who swings for the fences on every pitch and expect consistent production.
If this was the Crawford of just a few seasons ago, then I don't think Mattingly would even think about doing this. But as I said above, you can't ignore what injuries and Father Time has done to Crawford. It's not like he's a station to station runner, but don't expect to ever see the Crawford circa Tampa Bay days again.
If I'm an opposing pitcher, I would much rather see Crawford leading off than Puig, simply for the fear that Puig puts into you every time he's up. What pitcher wants to start the game by watching a long blast or a ball drilled to the gap? That's what Puig can bring, along with his aggressiveness on the bases. Crawford can still make things happen, especially if he can prove he's healthy, but not like the young, fresher Puig.
Of course, if Puig isn't getting on base, then I can see Mattingly deciding the leadoff hitter based on the opposing pitcher. If it's a lefty, then it's Puig, and vice versa for a righty.
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