In the spirit of confusion surrounding our dread-locked hero, I'll leave you with another puzzler for the weekend. Why is Casey Blake in my office?
Friday, February 27, 2009
Why Is Casey Blake In My Office?
In the spirit of confusion surrounding our dread-locked hero, I'll leave you with another puzzler for the weekend. Why is Casey Blake in my office?
I Was Right, Dodgers Are Wrong
It is about the money. However, not in the way I was thinking. From Scott Boras:
"We exchanged three proposals over the last 10 days," Boras said in an interview with MLB.com early Friday morning. "We made a recent proposal [Thursday night] as I learned the Dodgers stated they'd offered two years at $45 million. I wanted to let them know that we would be accepting that offer in the structure that I'd heard of."Great! Boras even let the Dodgers know that "we would be accepting." Then it gets reported that the Dodgers wanted to defer most of the money that was owed to Manny in 2008, possibly paying him as little as $10 million.
"We are continuing to work within the scope of the parameters established during our discussion Wednesday afternoon at Dodger Stadium, which included a two-year term and ability for the player to void the contract after the first year," Boras said in the e-mail message sent to media members."Per that face to face meeting, we agreed to continue to have discussions until Friday at noon, which included our two proposals today, our most recent at two-years, $45 million. We are waiting to hear their response."
When asked on Thursday whether the $25 million for the coming season would make Ramirez the second highest paid player in baseball behind Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez, Colletti simply said, "yes."
Technically, that's correct. In actuality, though, the deal as structured by the Dodgers would pay Ramirez $10 million in actual cash for 2009 with the remaining $15 million deferred, according to the source.
How stupid can the Dodgers get? They stuck to their guns in both monetary and yearly limits, got Boras to agree with them on those terms, and then pulled this crap! Don't "start from scratch" you idiots. Sack up and give the man his due. Sell one of your beach houses if you have too Franky. I can't twist in the wind much longer.
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Show Manny The Money
Another day, another Manny Ramirez rejection...
Via a letter sent to the Dodgers from his agent, Scott Boras, Manny Ramirez rejected the club's latest offer on Thursday.
"We love Manny Ramirez and we want Manny back, but we feel we are negotiating against ourselves," said Dodgers owner Frank McCourt.
"So now, we start from scratch."
Manny Ramirez can't be so naive to think a four year contract from a mystery team is waiting in the wings. Therefore, it's gotta be about the money.
The Dodgers have been pretty firm in limiting their monetary offer; however, it appears that it's going to take a bit more cash to get this deal done. While it's easy for me to say the Dodgers should simply increase their offer by $10 million, logical thinking kicks back and shouts not to give into temptation.
In the end however, the Dodgers have a serious chance of making a World Series run. If it takes a few extra million to get there, so be it.
This One Is For Nat
I had lunch today with fellow ROB'er Nat, and he took the liberty of teasing me several times about posting during work hours. So, here you go buddy, some recent Dodger news to get you through the afternoon...
- Andre Ethier was struck by a batting practice ball and now has a sore heel. Nothing major here, but isn't that one of the first things you are told when you start going on the field for BP. Watch out!
- Casey Blake complained of a sore groin after playing in today's game. "He can do everything but run," says Torre.
- Manny Ramirez will let the Dodgers know today or tomorrow if he plans to accept or decline their latest offer.
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Mama Mia, Here We Go Again!
Not sure if you heard the news, but the Dodgers brought out the big guns and offered Manny Ramirez…the same contract as before. However, this one comes with a possible punch to the gut.
Having offered both a one year and two year deal previously this allows the Dodgers to limit their commitment while allowing Manny to score one more giant contract should he (and by he, I mean Boras) so choose. The contract also addresses the issue of Manny rolling over on his team as he now must be on his best behavior should he decide to test the waters again next year. I find it doubtful that a professional athlete would purposely dog it without extraneous circumstances working against him, but those thoughts have probably crossed the mind of the Dodgers once or twice. On the surface, it appears to be a win/ win for the front office.
But I’m not a part of the front office.
I’m thrilled that Ramirez appears to be getting closer to Dodger Stadium, but after all the drama, the back and forth, and the uncertainty, wouldn’t it be nice to keep him around longer than a single year? After all, you don’t remodel the house only to sell it shortly after. I love Manny Ramirez more than I can explain, which is why it's going to hurt so much to say goodbye so soon.
When Ramirez lights the NL on fire in 2009, we’ll be waiving goodbye to Mannywood in 2010. Ramirez will have set himself up for a final payday, a day that was never going to come with the Dodgers. He’ll (again, Boras) bide his time in the Ravine until the economy recovers, players get injured, and another team comes calling. And when they do, Ramirez will hang up on the Dodgers so quickly we’ll be staring at Juan Pierre in left field before we know what hit us. And that, my friends, will be the worst stomach punch around.
MLB.com has learned that in the 2 1/2-hour meeting, the Dodgers officials offered Ramirez a variation of their original two-year deal, guaranteeing $45 million for two years ($25 million the first year and $20 million the second).However, the third-year option of $15 million from the first proposal was dropped and, at Boras' request, the second year is a player option so Ramirez could become a free agent again after the 2009 season.
Having offered both a one year and two year deal previously this allows the Dodgers to limit their commitment while allowing Manny to score one more giant contract should he (and by he, I mean Boras) so choose. The contract also addresses the issue of Manny rolling over on his team as he now must be on his best behavior should he decide to test the waters again next year. I find it doubtful that a professional athlete would purposely dog it without extraneous circumstances working against him, but those thoughts have probably crossed the mind of the Dodgers once or twice. On the surface, it appears to be a win/ win for the front office.
But I’m not a part of the front office.
I’m thrilled that Ramirez appears to be getting closer to Dodger Stadium, but after all the drama, the back and forth, and the uncertainty, wouldn’t it be nice to keep him around longer than a single year? After all, you don’t remodel the house only to sell it shortly after. I love Manny Ramirez more than I can explain, which is why it's going to hurt so much to say goodbye so soon.
When Ramirez lights the NL on fire in 2009, we’ll be waiving goodbye to Mannywood in 2010. Ramirez will have set himself up for a final payday, a day that was never going to come with the Dodgers. He’ll (again, Boras) bide his time in the Ravine until the economy recovers, players get injured, and another team comes calling. And when they do, Ramirez will hang up on the Dodgers so quickly we’ll be staring at Juan Pierre in left field before we know what hit us. And that, my friends, will be the worst stomach punch around.
Manny offer #4
The dance continues as Ned Coletti and Scott Boras reportedly met today to discuss Mr. Ramirez. Here are the details as documented from Ken Gurnick...
- 2-year deal guaranteeing $45 million for two years ($25 million the first year and $20 million the second).
- Escape clause after the first year was added at Boras' request so Ramirez could become a free agent again after the 2009 season.
This could provoke a signing soon, however it could mean seeing Manny in Dodger Blue for as little as half a season. If he has an out-clause after the '09 season, he could conceivably be moved at the trade deadline.
This whole situation reminds me of the end of "Back to the Future" when Marty pulls out a photo of his siblings and is overwhelmed with emotion to see them become more and more clear. The vision of Manny returning to the Ravine is becoming more and more clear. Of course, Marty had to deliver a knock-out blow to Biff and perform "Earth Angel" and "Johnny B. Goode" with a severely bloodied hand, as well as almost kiss his mother while he "parked", while Coletti only has to deal with Boras. Ok, kind of a stretch, but you get the idea.
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
This Must Be A Good Sign
Previously, in spring trainings past, Jason Schmidt has claimed to feel "fine out there" when clearly he wasn't. However, here is what he had to say after tossing one (not even a big one, just 11 pitches) inning...
History has taught us that whatever Jason Schmidt says, we can bet on the opposite. Therefore, all must be good to go!
"It felt like I had thrown five innings. It was a little sore in an area where it should be sore. It's a good thing I'm not throwing a bullpen today. Overall, I'd say it came out good. I mean, I don't need a cortisone shot, so that's good, right?"
History has taught us that whatever Jason Schmidt says, we can bet on the opposite. Therefore, all must be good to go!
Breaking Out
A recent Baseball Prospectus piece has Clayton Kershaw ranked fairly high in regards to breakout potential for 2009. From the article:
Kershaw was hyped so much last season that his starts were monitored closer by the media and the baseball community than that of say Derek Lowe's. Despite some early first half struggles Kershaw settled down and improved his ERA, K's, BB's, and WHIP during the back end of the season.
The lofty comparisons will continue to follow Kershaw until he makes the leap, or falls flat on his face. Some have been quick to anoint this kid as the next Koufax, and while that is simply impossible, monitoring Kershaw's development and poise over the course of an entire season is something to look forward to. Let's hope his desire to "dominate at ping-pong" has him skunking batters all season long.
Clayton Kershaw, Dodgers (157 IP, 4.35 EqERA, 23% Breakout Rate)
Drafted one pick behind Miller, Kershaw ranked fifth on last year's prospect list, and dazzled observers in spring training -- all before celebrating his 20th birthday. Recalled in May, he scuffled in his first major league stint before undertaking a Double-A refresher course. Upon returning, the young southpaw exhibited much-improved control (67/28 K/BB ratio in 69 innings) and impressive poise, finishing with a respectable 4.26 ERA that would have been considerably lower with average defensive support. Only the speed of his ascent curbs PECOTA's optimism for him to maintain or better last year's level, since his baseline includes relatively high translated ERAs from his low minors work.
Kershaw was hyped so much last season that his starts were monitored closer by the media and the baseball community than that of say Derek Lowe's. Despite some early first half struggles Kershaw settled down and improved his ERA, K's, BB's, and WHIP during the back end of the season.
The lofty comparisons will continue to follow Kershaw until he makes the leap, or falls flat on his face. Some have been quick to anoint this kid as the next Koufax, and while that is simply impossible, monitoring Kershaw's development and poise over the course of an entire season is something to look forward to. Let's hope his desire to "dominate at ping-pong" has him skunking batters all season long.
Monday, February 23, 2009
Please Call It A Comeback
We've been quick to rip Jason Schmidt here at Reflections of Blue; however, with Schmidt set to take the mount today for an intra-squad game, we'll lay off the criticism and hold our collective breaths.
It's no secret that the current rotation is full of questions marks. And while Schmidt only brings more of them, there remains the faint possibility he could transform into an exclamation point for the Dodgers. Expecting 10+ wins might be on the lofty side, but a record of 8-5 would be a pleasant surprise in the eyes of many. While it has been almost two years since Schmidt threw a pitch in the major leagues, perhaps it's like riding that proverbial bike. Dodger fans need something more to remember him by that his home run off Jeff Francis back in 2007.
Though I personally carry no belief that Jason Schmidt will be beneficial to the Blue in 2009, I hold the sincerest hope that my assumptions prove to be mistaken.
It's no secret that the current rotation is full of questions marks. And while Schmidt only brings more of them, there remains the faint possibility he could transform into an exclamation point for the Dodgers. Expecting 10+ wins might be on the lofty side, but a record of 8-5 would be a pleasant surprise in the eyes of many. While it has been almost two years since Schmidt threw a pitch in the major leagues, perhaps it's like riding that proverbial bike. Dodger fans need something more to remember him by that his home run off Jeff Francis back in 2007.
Though I personally carry no belief that Jason Schmidt will be beneficial to the Blue in 2009, I hold the sincerest hope that my assumptions prove to be mistaken.
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Keep Cool My Babies
With a final string dance and a releasing of Abe Vigoda, Conan O'Brien said goodbye to "Late Night with Conan O'Brien" after 16 years. For the last eight of those years Conan has claimed the number 2 spot in my television lineup, falling just short of Dodger baseball. Seldom a night passed that I was not eased into slumber by Conan, Max, the Walker Texas Ranger Lever, and sometimes the Masturbating Bear.
While Conan will be taking over "The Tonight Show" starting June 1st, part of me knows the magic of those 12:35am shows will never survive the journey to Los Angeles. There will forever be a void in my "late nights."
So long Desk Rides, In The Year 2000, Horny Manatee, and Pimpbot 5000. You guys kept me laughing late into the night. Lets reflect on Conan over some hot chocolate and whipped cream.
While Conan will be taking over "The Tonight Show" starting June 1st, part of me knows the magic of those 12:35am shows will never survive the journey to Los Angeles. There will forever be a void in my "late nights."
So long Desk Rides, In The Year 2000, Horny Manatee, and Pimpbot 5000. You guys kept me laughing late into the night. Lets reflect on Conan over some hot chocolate and whipped cream.
Friday, February 20, 2009
We'll Pass On This Orlando Too
UPDATE 2: $3.4 MILLION IN BASE SALARY PLUS $4.6 MILLION IN INCENTIVES FOR HUDSON? THAT'S WAY TOO MUCH.
UPDATE: WELL, THE DODGERS APPEAR TO HAVE SIGNED ORLANDO HUDSON. WHATEVER.
Instead of loading up on pitchers (and no, Jeff Weaver doesn’t count) Ned Colletti seems determined to field a squad entirely made up of second baseman. Though the Dodgers already have Blake DeWitt and Mark Lorretta, Colletti has been courting both Orlando Hudson and Orlando Cabrera. From the article:
Improve their offense? Really? Below are Cabrera’s numbers for 2008.
Cabrera: 661 AB’s/ .334 OBP/ 8 HR’s/ 57 RBI’s/ 84 OPS+
Yikes! It took over 660 at bats for Cabrera to equal the offensive output that Blake DeWitt posted in only 368 at bats. In fact, if you neutralize the plate appearances to 500 for each of the four players above you get the following:
Cabrera: 6 HR’s/ 43 RBI’s
Hudson: 10 HR’s/ 50 RBI’s
Loretta: 8 HR’s/ 72 RBI’s
DeWitt: 12 HR’s/ 70 RBI’s
How exactly does a team improve their offense by signing lesser offensive caliber players than they already possess? Is anyone at Dodger Stadium running the numbers? We know that the Dodgers have “a little payroll flexibility,” and that Colletti is “big on inventory,” but does a car dealership stockpile 1995 Chevy Saturns when there is a Ferrari available?
UPDATE: WELL, THE DODGERS APPEAR TO HAVE SIGNED ORLANDO HUDSON. WHATEVER.
Instead of loading up on pitchers (and no, Jeff Weaver doesn’t count) Ned Colletti seems determined to field a squad entirely made up of second baseman. Though the Dodgers already have Blake DeWitt and Mark Lorretta, Colletti has been courting both Orlando Hudson and Orlando Cabrera. From the article:
The Dodgers, apparently uncertain they can work a deal for second baseman Orlando Hudson, have also begun talks with free-agent infielder Orlando Cabrera.
Cabrera, a two-time Gold Glove shortstop, told the club he would be willing to move to second base, where Blake DeWitt came to camp as the heir apparent to the retired Jeff Kent.
The Dodgers appear determined to land one of them to improve their offense and defense, even while continuing talks to sign free-agent outfielder Manny Ramirez.
Improve their offense? Really? Below are Cabrera’s numbers for 2008.
Cabrera: 661 AB’s/ .334 OBP/ 8 HR’s/ 57 RBI’s/ 84 OPS+
Yikes! It took over 660 at bats for Cabrera to equal the offensive output that Blake DeWitt posted in only 368 at bats. In fact, if you neutralize the plate appearances to 500 for each of the four players above you get the following:
Cabrera: 6 HR’s/ 43 RBI’s
Hudson: 10 HR’s/ 50 RBI’s
Loretta: 8 HR’s/ 72 RBI’s
DeWitt: 12 HR’s/ 70 RBI’s
How exactly does a team improve their offense by signing lesser offensive caliber players than they already possess? Is anyone at Dodger Stadium running the numbers? We know that the Dodgers have “a little payroll flexibility,” and that Colletti is “big on inventory,” but does a car dealership stockpile 1995 Chevy Saturns when there is a Ferrari available?
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Colletti Should Let This Sleeping O-Dog Lie
The Orlando Hudson rumors won’t fade away. This report comes courtesy of Tony Jackson:
For an organization so committed to the youth movement, the signing of Orlando Hudson would block the development of, quite possibly, their second baseman of the future. While Blake DeWitt has yet to prove himself at the major league level, he only has a partial year under his belt. And in that partial year he posted numbers extremely comparable to the O-Dog.
2008 Season
DeWitt: 368 AB’s/ .344 OBP/ 9 HR’s/ 52 RBI’s/ 45 BB/ 68 K’s
Hudson: 407 AB’s/ .367 OBP/ 8 HR’s/ 41 RBI’s/ 40 BB/ 62 K’s
Honestly, what’s the difference between the two players? Hudson’s three Gold Gloves? Seems like DeWitt holds his own in that department too.
2008 Season
DeWitt: .981 fielding percentage at 2B
Hudson: .982 fielding percentage at 2B
Not only is Orlando Hudson going to cost the Dodgers their first round draft pick, he’s also going to cost more in salary in ’09. The Dodgers can have DeWitt on the cheap for two more seasons, and shouldn’t burn one of those years with renting Orlando Hudson. If Hudson gets anything longer than a single year you can wave goodbye to Blake DeWitt.
Unless management has ZERO faith in DeWitt they should pass on Orland Hudson. DeWitt will no doubt have growing pains, but isn’t that why Colletti signed Mark Loretta this off-season?
Not sure what changed, because the Dodgers had no interest in this guy earlier in the winter because of concerns about his offensive shortcomings, and defense at 2B didn't seem to be a major priority because they have Furcal at SS and Loney at 1B, both of whom are superb glove men who cover a lot of ground. But the Dodgers do have an open 40-man spot. Ned was quick to say that this doesn't mean the organization has doubts about Blake DeWitt's ability as an everyday second baseman. But Hudson does have three Gold Gloves, he has a decent (.346) career OBP and he has enough gap power that he hits a lot of doubles. It sounds like the Dodgers are pretty serious about him, and he is another of those still-unsigned free agents.
For an organization so committed to the youth movement, the signing of Orlando Hudson would block the development of, quite possibly, their second baseman of the future. While Blake DeWitt has yet to prove himself at the major league level, he only has a partial year under his belt. And in that partial year he posted numbers extremely comparable to the O-Dog.
2008 Season
DeWitt: 368 AB’s/ .344 OBP/ 9 HR’s/ 52 RBI’s/ 45 BB/ 68 K’s
Hudson: 407 AB’s/ .367 OBP/ 8 HR’s/ 41 RBI’s/ 40 BB/ 62 K’s
Honestly, what’s the difference between the two players? Hudson’s three Gold Gloves? Seems like DeWitt holds his own in that department too.
2008 Season
DeWitt: .981 fielding percentage at 2B
Hudson: .982 fielding percentage at 2B
Not only is Orlando Hudson going to cost the Dodgers their first round draft pick, he’s also going to cost more in salary in ’09. The Dodgers can have DeWitt on the cheap for two more seasons, and shouldn’t burn one of those years with renting Orlando Hudson. If Hudson gets anything longer than a single year you can wave goodbye to Blake DeWitt.
Unless management has ZERO faith in DeWitt they should pass on Orland Hudson. DeWitt will no doubt have growing pains, but isn’t that why Colletti signed Mark Loretta this off-season?
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Baseball = Business
Eric Gagne agreed to a minor-league contract with the Brewers today, hoping to win a spot on the 40-man roster. If he does not make the roster, he has an out-clause that would return him to free agency.
More newsworthy was his conversation with GM Doug Melvin after the '08 season. Here's Melvin's recollection:
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"He [Gagne] came to me at the end of the season and told me he felt he didn't earn his [salary], that he didn't pitch the way he wanted to pitch for what he was being paid. He said he felt indebted to us to come back in and give it another shot for us. I didn't expect that, and I respect the fact that he stood up and said, 'I didn't pitch well.' He came to me and said, 'I'm sorry I disappointed you.' But he pitched well at the end of the year and that's what counted, so I give him a lot of credit for that."
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
So, Gagne gives Milwaukee the ultimate home-town discount. I admire that. But wait, this sounds really familiar...
Here's an excerpt from a Ken Gurnick article which features Gagne speaking out just after the '06 season with the Dodgers (which would be his last with the team)...
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"I've been paid a lot of money the last two years, and I haven't been healthy...I'm sure if I had been healthy, I'd be in L.A. for sure the next couple of years. But I can't really do anything about it. I got hurt. Now I have to prove to everybody that I'm not hurt and I know I can show I'm fine."
Gurnick chimes in....
"When last heard from at season's end [offseason '06], Gagne was upbeat about recovering from his back and elbow surgeries, talking about a willingness to accept a hometown discount to return, acknowledging that he'd been 'a $10 million cheerleader.' "
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Shortly after this, Gagne would sign a $6 million deal with the Texas Rangers for the '07 season.
Is memory loss a post-symptom of steroid use?
More newsworthy was his conversation with GM Doug Melvin after the '08 season. Here's Melvin's recollection:
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"He [Gagne] came to me at the end of the season and told me he felt he didn't earn his [salary], that he didn't pitch the way he wanted to pitch for what he was being paid. He said he felt indebted to us to come back in and give it another shot for us. I didn't expect that, and I respect the fact that he stood up and said, 'I didn't pitch well.' He came to me and said, 'I'm sorry I disappointed you.' But he pitched well at the end of the year and that's what counted, so I give him a lot of credit for that."
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
So, Gagne gives Milwaukee the ultimate home-town discount. I admire that. But wait, this sounds really familiar...
Here's an excerpt from a Ken Gurnick article which features Gagne speaking out just after the '06 season with the Dodgers (which would be his last with the team)...
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"I've been paid a lot of money the last two years, and I haven't been healthy...I'm sure if I had been healthy, I'd be in L.A. for sure the next couple of years. But I can't really do anything about it. I got hurt. Now I have to prove to everybody that I'm not hurt and I know I can show I'm fine."
Gurnick chimes in....
"When last heard from at season's end [offseason '06], Gagne was upbeat about recovering from his back and elbow surgeries, talking about a willingness to accept a hometown discount to return, acknowledging that he'd been 'a $10 million cheerleader.' "
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Shortly after this, Gagne would sign a $6 million deal with the Texas Rangers for the '07 season.
Is memory loss a post-symptom of steroid use?
Arbitration Avoided
From dodgers.com:
It will be interesting to see what those performance bonuses are. Please pass them along if you hear the details before I do.
Ethier should have no problem notching 20+ HR's and 80+ RBI's this season, so unless the bonuses are in the Ramirez pantheon Ethier seems to be set up nicely.
UPDATE FROM TONY JACKSON....
The 650 PA's seems attainable as he notched 596 last season while playing in 140 games. Add in an extra 15 games, at 4 appearances per game, and Ethier would tally 656.
The Dodgers and outfielder Andre Ethier reached a settlement on a one-year contract for $3.1 million just before the scheduled start of an arbitration hearing Tuesday morning.Ethier, who received $424,500 last year without the leverage of arbitration, was seeking $3.75 million this year with the club offering $2.65 million, with the midpoint at $3.2 million. He also received performance bonuses "at very high levels," according to general manager Ned Colletti.
It will be interesting to see what those performance bonuses are. Please pass them along if you hear the details before I do.
Ethier should have no problem notching 20+ HR's and 80+ RBI's this season, so unless the bonuses are in the Ramirez pantheon Ethier seems to be set up nicely.
UPDATE FROM TONY JACKSON....
That's a hair south of the midpoint -- a $100,000 hair, that is -- but he can get to the midpoint if he maxes out on his incentives, which are $25,000 each for 596 and 625 plate appearances and $50,000 for 650 PAs. If the 596 seems like a weird number, that's exactly how many PAs he had in 2008. What apparently opened the door for this was the fact two comparable players, St. Louis' Ryan Ludwick and Pittsburgh's Nate McLouth, settled within the past 24 hours. Ludwick got $3.7 million, and McLouth actually signed a three-year deal that has an average annual value of $4.3 million. It wouldn't be accurate to say Ethier's signing came at the last second. The sides actually postponed the hearing while they got a deal done in a hallway outside the hearing room. Ned Colletti estimates the agreement was reached between 10 and 10:15 this morning. The hearing had been scheduled for 9:30.
The 650 PA's seems attainable as he notched 596 last season while playing in 140 games. Add in an extra 15 games, at 4 appearances per game, and Ethier would tally 656.
Monday, February 16, 2009
I Love Me Some Jason Schmidt Quotes
This one comes courtesy of Tony Jackson...
Well I got news for you Schmidtty, there are a lot of Dodger fans who have never seen you throw either. And if they have, they don't want to remember it.
Schmidt said he is treating this like any other spring training, just trying to get ready for the season.
"I just want to go out and pitch,'' he said. "I want my kids to see me pitch. That is the biggest thing for me. I have a 5-year-old son who has never seen Dad throw before, and if he has, he doesn't remember it.''
Well I got news for you Schmidtty, there are a lot of Dodger fans who have never seen you throw either. And if they have, they don't want to remember it.
Friday, February 13, 2009
Top 10 Players to Watch this Spring
10. Brad Ausmus, 2008: .218 AVG, 3 HR, 24 RBI in 216 AB
- I think we can all agree that backup catcher Brad Ausmus won’t be contributing on the field much this season. So why does he make the list? Because Ausmus is a ‘coach in training’. He is slated to be the relatable veteran presence in the clubhouse that keeps the team loose. He is a guy who can show the young players how to handle themselves off the field. If you believe in a thing called chemistry than you’ll understand what I’m talking about. Even if you don’t believe in chemistry, it’s hard to argue that Ausmus’s baseball smarts won’t benefit the team in some way.
- Prognosis: Every team needs a guy to haze the rookies. This year, Brad Ausmus is that guy. We'll see if his personality is a match with the many young players on the team.
9. Scott Elbert, 2008: 0-1, 12.00 ERA in 6.0 IP (AA: 4-1, 2.40 ERA, 46 K in 41.1 IP)
- If the Dodgers have a secret weapon entering spring, it is Scott Elbert. After missing most of 2007 recovering from shoulder surgery, the former 1st round pick pick was striking out batters again in 2008.
- Prognosis: Elbert is an excellent athlete with a devastating breaking pitch. He was a bit overmatched at the big league level but a solid spring could go along way for his confidence. He has the stuff to succeed, but like every pitcher he needs to locate his pitches consistently. Elbert is a strike out pitcher and he could prove to be a valuable asset for the bullpen this season.
8. Jeff Weaver, 2008, AAA: 4-6, 6.20 ERA in 84.2 IP
- ‘The Weave’ had almost disappeared from the game completely, but Ned did Boras a solid by giving the Spicoli look-alike another shot in LA.
- Prognosis: The Dodgers pitching staff has a strong history of successful reclamation projects and Jeff Weaver seems to fit the bill. The 32-year-old sidearmer has a 2-seam fastball and sweeping slider that could work well in a relief role. We’ll see what Rick Honeycutt can do with him. Like Stults, Weaver might be running out of opportunities. Unlike Stults, Weaver has made a few big paychecks in his day.
7. Eric Stults, 2008: 2-3, 3.49 ERA in 38.2 IP (AAA: 7-7, 3.82 ERA in 117.2 IP)
- If you’re looking for a player to root for this spring, Eric Stults is your guy. At 29, he has spent the last 7 seasons in the minor leagues and gotten a few cups of coffee along the way. In that time the lefty from Indiana has posted a 4.67 ERA in his minor league career. In 2008, things started to click for Stults. He pitched well in the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League and even better in big leagues. The highlight of his season being a complete game shutout against the White Sox in June.
- Prognosis: Life can’t be easy for a 29-year-old minor league pitcher. Especially for a guy who has never been considered a top prospect. This spring represents Stults’ best chance yet to crack an opening day roster. Maybe even a starting spot in a seemingly thin rotation. This could be a make-or-break moment in his career. You can’t help but pull for a guy in his situation.
6. Matt Kemp, 2008: .290 AVG, 18 HR, 76 RBI, 35 SB, .340 OBP, .799 OPS
- Kemp is an electric player. He hits line drives, runs like the wind and has a cannon for an arm. Sure he’ll look bad swinging at a slider out of the zone or running through a stop sign from time to time, but Matt Kemp is one of the most exciting young players in the game.
Prognosis: I’m excited to see what Matt Kemp does this spring. Hopefully he develops a knack for hitting more homeruns. The key to Kemp’s season will probably be his patience and pitch selection at the plate. At 24, many are expecting a breakout year from him. I’d also like to see him continue to make strides in his development as a centerfielder as well.
5. Andre Ethier, 2008: .305 AVG, 19 HR, 79 RBI, .375 OBP, .885 OPS
- What a year it was for Andre Ethier in 2008. Not only did he enjoy the best season of his career (thanks in part to Manny’s presence in the lineup) but he and his wife had their first child as well.
- Prognosis: Andre is quickly becoming a fan favorite. And why not? He’s got a fresh face, an appetizing blog and a good looking swing. When I watch Ethier hit I actually start wishing I was left-handed. His approach and mechanics are very solid. According to Fangraphs.com, Ethier led the majors with the highest line drive percentage in baseball last season (26.6%). I think this is going to be the year we see him develop more power to the opposite field.
4. Clayton Kershaw, 2008: 5-5, 4.26 ERA, 100 K, 52 BB in 107.1 IP
- Kershaw, 20, made his MLB debut last year and showed signs of both dominance and youth. All in all, he held his own. The Dodgers continually babied him, and rightfully so, keeping him from getting into too much trouble on the mound. Kershaw will have more responsibility this year and throwing strikes will be of the utmost importance.
- Prognosis: Kershaw has a mid-90’s fastball and an excellent curveball that drops in at about 72-74 MPH. If he can locate his fastball he will be a force to be reckoned with. It would be nice to see him gain confidence in a 3rd pitch, particularly a changeup. Swagger doesn’t seem to be an issue with this kid. If he can minimize walking batters then the sky is the limit for him. It’s always interesting to see how a kid in his early 20’s will handle himself when he enters spring with a starting role.
“Clayton likes to dominate in ping-pong.” -- Clayton’s girlfriend Ellen Melson
3. Jason Schmidt, 2008: DID NOT PLAY 2007: 1-4, 6.31 ERA in 25.2 IP
- We all know the story with this guy. Health is a huge question mark. I can guarantee that Schmidt is hungry to get back on the hill and start pitching again. His last full season was 2006. In both the majors and minors, he’s thrown a total of 48.1 IP in 2 seasons with the Dodgers.
- Prognosis: Don’t expect much, if anything, from Schmidt this season. In 2007, doctors performed exploratory surgery on his throwing shoulder and found that everything was wrong. He gave his arm and career to the Giants years ago. Schmidt has a lot to prove at this point in his career. Give him credit, he’s trying to perform and make good on a big contract. We should all be pulling for him, but realistically his career is over until proven otherwise. This could be the last spring training of his career.
2. Jonathan Broxton, 2008: 3-5, 3.13 ERA, 14 Saves, 11.5 K/9 in 69.0 IP
- Filling in for an injured Takashi Saito, Broxton converted 14 of 17 save opportunities after the all-star break. Listed at 6’4”, 290 lbs. Big Jon is a big dude to be sure.
- Prognosis: Our last memory of Jonathan Broxton involves a towering, back-breaking homerun off the bat of Matt Stairs. At 24, Broxton is being relied upon to fill the closers role full-time. The most volatile position in the game. A position he has been groomed for since 2005. Only time will tell if he has the mental makeup to make a career as a closer. He does have a deadly 1-2 punch. 96 MPH fastball, 88 MPH slider. Let’s hope that Broxton not only locates his fastball in 2009, but that he can also locate a treadmill ASAP.
1. Chad Billingsley, 2008: 16-10, 3.14 ERA, 201 K, 9.0 K/9 in 200.2 IP
- After having a phenomenal regular season Bills finished the year by losing 2 games in the NLCS to the best team in baseball. In those 2 losses, his teammates questioned his toughness while he questioned Russell Martin’s pitch selection. Things got worse for the 24-year-old in November when he broke his leg at his home in Pennsylvania. He has since recovered and Ken Gurnick reports that Billingsley is already throwing bullpen sessions.
- Prognosis: Few pitchers in baseball have as much stuff as Chad Billingsley does. In 2008, Chad made tremendous strides in improving the movement on both his 2-seam fastball and cut-fastball which resulted in more groundballs. Essentially he has a combo of 2 hard pitches, one darts left and one darts right. He has a very solid curveball and a decent changeup as well. A lot of fans are questioning Billingsley’s ability to be an Ace, I am not one of those fans. However, I do think it is imperative for him to establish himself as more of an intimidating presence on the mound in 2009. Just a little more swagger could make him a legitimate Cy Young contender. It all starts with how he carries himself in Spring Training.
- I think we can all agree that backup catcher Brad Ausmus won’t be contributing on the field much this season. So why does he make the list? Because Ausmus is a ‘coach in training’. He is slated to be the relatable veteran presence in the clubhouse that keeps the team loose. He is a guy who can show the young players how to handle themselves off the field. If you believe in a thing called chemistry than you’ll understand what I’m talking about. Even if you don’t believe in chemistry, it’s hard to argue that Ausmus’s baseball smarts won’t benefit the team in some way.
- Prognosis: Every team needs a guy to haze the rookies. This year, Brad Ausmus is that guy. We'll see if his personality is a match with the many young players on the team.
9. Scott Elbert, 2008: 0-1, 12.00 ERA in 6.0 IP (AA: 4-1, 2.40 ERA, 46 K in 41.1 IP)
- If the Dodgers have a secret weapon entering spring, it is Scott Elbert. After missing most of 2007 recovering from shoulder surgery, the former 1st round pick pick was striking out batters again in 2008.
- Prognosis: Elbert is an excellent athlete with a devastating breaking pitch. He was a bit overmatched at the big league level but a solid spring could go along way for his confidence. He has the stuff to succeed, but like every pitcher he needs to locate his pitches consistently. Elbert is a strike out pitcher and he could prove to be a valuable asset for the bullpen this season.
8. Jeff Weaver, 2008, AAA: 4-6, 6.20 ERA in 84.2 IP
- ‘The Weave’ had almost disappeared from the game completely, but Ned did Boras a solid by giving the Spicoli look-alike another shot in LA.
- Prognosis: The Dodgers pitching staff has a strong history of successful reclamation projects and Jeff Weaver seems to fit the bill. The 32-year-old sidearmer has a 2-seam fastball and sweeping slider that could work well in a relief role. We’ll see what Rick Honeycutt can do with him. Like Stults, Weaver might be running out of opportunities. Unlike Stults, Weaver has made a few big paychecks in his day.
7. Eric Stults, 2008: 2-3, 3.49 ERA in 38.2 IP (AAA: 7-7, 3.82 ERA in 117.2 IP)
- If you’re looking for a player to root for this spring, Eric Stults is your guy. At 29, he has spent the last 7 seasons in the minor leagues and gotten a few cups of coffee along the way. In that time the lefty from Indiana has posted a 4.67 ERA in his minor league career. In 2008, things started to click for Stults. He pitched well in the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League and even better in big leagues. The highlight of his season being a complete game shutout against the White Sox in June.
- Prognosis: Life can’t be easy for a 29-year-old minor league pitcher. Especially for a guy who has never been considered a top prospect. This spring represents Stults’ best chance yet to crack an opening day roster. Maybe even a starting spot in a seemingly thin rotation. This could be a make-or-break moment in his career. You can’t help but pull for a guy in his situation.
6. Matt Kemp, 2008: .290 AVG, 18 HR, 76 RBI, 35 SB, .340 OBP, .799 OPS
- Kemp is an electric player. He hits line drives, runs like the wind and has a cannon for an arm. Sure he’ll look bad swinging at a slider out of the zone or running through a stop sign from time to time, but Matt Kemp is one of the most exciting young players in the game.
Prognosis: I’m excited to see what Matt Kemp does this spring. Hopefully he develops a knack for hitting more homeruns. The key to Kemp’s season will probably be his patience and pitch selection at the plate. At 24, many are expecting a breakout year from him. I’d also like to see him continue to make strides in his development as a centerfielder as well.
5. Andre Ethier, 2008: .305 AVG, 19 HR, 79 RBI, .375 OBP, .885 OPS
- What a year it was for Andre Ethier in 2008. Not only did he enjoy the best season of his career (thanks in part to Manny’s presence in the lineup) but he and his wife had their first child as well.
- Prognosis: Andre is quickly becoming a fan favorite. And why not? He’s got a fresh face, an appetizing blog and a good looking swing. When I watch Ethier hit I actually start wishing I was left-handed. His approach and mechanics are very solid. According to Fangraphs.com, Ethier led the majors with the highest line drive percentage in baseball last season (26.6%). I think this is going to be the year we see him develop more power to the opposite field.
4. Clayton Kershaw, 2008: 5-5, 4.26 ERA, 100 K, 52 BB in 107.1 IP
- Kershaw, 20, made his MLB debut last year and showed signs of both dominance and youth. All in all, he held his own. The Dodgers continually babied him, and rightfully so, keeping him from getting into too much trouble on the mound. Kershaw will have more responsibility this year and throwing strikes will be of the utmost importance.
- Prognosis: Kershaw has a mid-90’s fastball and an excellent curveball that drops in at about 72-74 MPH. If he can locate his fastball he will be a force to be reckoned with. It would be nice to see him gain confidence in a 3rd pitch, particularly a changeup. Swagger doesn’t seem to be an issue with this kid. If he can minimize walking batters then the sky is the limit for him. It’s always interesting to see how a kid in his early 20’s will handle himself when he enters spring with a starting role.
“Clayton likes to dominate in ping-pong.” -- Clayton’s girlfriend Ellen Melson
3. Jason Schmidt, 2008: DID NOT PLAY 2007: 1-4, 6.31 ERA in 25.2 IP
- We all know the story with this guy. Health is a huge question mark. I can guarantee that Schmidt is hungry to get back on the hill and start pitching again. His last full season was 2006. In both the majors and minors, he’s thrown a total of 48.1 IP in 2 seasons with the Dodgers.
- Prognosis: Don’t expect much, if anything, from Schmidt this season. In 2007, doctors performed exploratory surgery on his throwing shoulder and found that everything was wrong. He gave his arm and career to the Giants years ago. Schmidt has a lot to prove at this point in his career. Give him credit, he’s trying to perform and make good on a big contract. We should all be pulling for him, but realistically his career is over until proven otherwise. This could be the last spring training of his career.
2. Jonathan Broxton, 2008: 3-5, 3.13 ERA, 14 Saves, 11.5 K/9 in 69.0 IP
- Filling in for an injured Takashi Saito, Broxton converted 14 of 17 save opportunities after the all-star break. Listed at 6’4”, 290 lbs. Big Jon is a big dude to be sure.
- Prognosis: Our last memory of Jonathan Broxton involves a towering, back-breaking homerun off the bat of Matt Stairs. At 24, Broxton is being relied upon to fill the closers role full-time. The most volatile position in the game. A position he has been groomed for since 2005. Only time will tell if he has the mental makeup to make a career as a closer. He does have a deadly 1-2 punch. 96 MPH fastball, 88 MPH slider. Let’s hope that Broxton not only locates his fastball in 2009, but that he can also locate a treadmill ASAP.
1. Chad Billingsley, 2008: 16-10, 3.14 ERA, 201 K, 9.0 K/9 in 200.2 IP
- After having a phenomenal regular season Bills finished the year by losing 2 games in the NLCS to the best team in baseball. In those 2 losses, his teammates questioned his toughness while he questioned Russell Martin’s pitch selection. Things got worse for the 24-year-old in November when he broke his leg at his home in Pennsylvania. He has since recovered and Ken Gurnick reports that Billingsley is already throwing bullpen sessions.
- Prognosis: Few pitchers in baseball have as much stuff as Chad Billingsley does. In 2008, Chad made tremendous strides in improving the movement on both his 2-seam fastball and cut-fastball which resulted in more groundballs. Essentially he has a combo of 2 hard pitches, one darts left and one darts right. He has a very solid curveball and a decent changeup as well. A lot of fans are questioning Billingsley’s ability to be an Ace, I am not one of those fans. However, I do think it is imperative for him to establish himself as more of an intimidating presence on the mound in 2009. Just a little more swagger could make him a legitimate Cy Young contender. It all starts with how he carries himself in Spring Training.
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Stop and Slow
According to Will Carroll at Baseball Prospectus, if we were driving on the highway of Dodger pitchers we wouldn't be moving very fast. I don't know how many of you have ESPN Insider, or subscribe to BP, so I'll include brief notes so all can see. You got the floor Will...
While the pitching staff is shaky, is it really that negative? Bills is a "Red?"
Each season at Baseball Prospectus, I do Team Health Reports for all 30 MLB squads using a system that uses twelve factors to help predict the risk of injury. I assign a red, yellow, or green flag to each player. Red, naturally, is the riskiest. The bad news in this L.A. story? It looks like the team has swapped from Dodgers blue to Dodgers red.
- Randy Wolf:
Risk Category: Yellow
PECOTA Says: 23 GS, 7-8, 4.50 ERA, 14.1 VORP
Wolf was signed to solidify the rotation, but he's only a year removed from shoulder surgery, and just two years removed from a Tommy John surgery on his elbow. Maybe scar tissue is the solid Ned Colletti is looking for.
- Chad Billingsley:
Risk Category: Red
PECOTA Says: 28 GS, 12-8, 3.55 ERA, 35.4 VORP
He broke his leg after slipping on ice, putting his conditioning in even more question than it was before. Sir Mix-A-Lot's favorite pitcher has a lot of questions to answer in spring training, and to add to the risk, a lot of miles on his young arm already.
- Hiroki Kuroda:
Risk Category: Yellow
PECOTA Says: 22 GS, 8-7, 4.16 ERA, 16.5 VORP
Like many Japanese pitchers, Kuroda hit a wall at the end of the season. Most tend to adjust, however, and Kuroda wasn't used as heavily in Japan as most.
- Clayton Kershaw:
Risk Category: Red
PECOTA Says: 28 GS, 10-8, 4.00 ERA, 23.9 VORP
Kershaw threw 160 innings as a 20-year-old. If he lasts the season and makes 30-plus starts, he'll push past 200 IP unless the organization places draconian limits on his workload. Find me a recent pitcher who did that at those ages and lasted.
- Jason Schmidt:
Risk Category: Red
PECOTA Says: 9 GS, 3-4, 4.88 ERA, 3.1 VORP
The Dodgers are both penciling Schmidt into their rotation and suing their insurance company to help pay for his damaged arm. Does anyone seriously expect him to contribute?
- Eric Stults:
Risk Category: Yellow
PECOTA Says: 15 GS, 6-7, 4.80 ERA, 6.50 VORP
I loved this guy in Some Kind of Wonderful. No? This one is a Quad-A pitcher who is precisely the kind of guy you keep in Triple-A to soak up the innings that you shouldn't push onto Kershaw.
- Claudio Vargas:
Risk Category: Green
PECOTA Says: 13 GS, 5-5, 4.60 ERA, 7.4 VORP
Vargas has three partial seasons' worth of experience starting, but has never been able to pitch well enough to lock down the job. He'll start off in the Dodgers' pen, but with this group listed above ahead of him, you have to think that he's likely to see ten starts along the way. Good thing is, he's proven he can do that without breaking.
- James McDonald:
Risk Category: Yellow
PECOTA Says: 16 GS, 6-8, 5.11 ERA, 3.2 VORPThe Dodgers want to ease McDonald in more than they were able to do with Kershaw. It's a smart plan, one that goes back to pitching coach Johnny Sain and Hall of Fame manager Earl Weaver as a fair way to handle young talent effectively. Like Vargas, he'll start in the pen but the deceptive righty is a real sleeper.
While the pitching staff is shaky, is it really that negative? Bills is a "Red?"
Fooled by Canseco
I've been avoiding any steroid discussions at Reflections of Blue; however, something caught my ear last night that is worth sharing. While watching Game 1 of the 1988 World Series the following conversation took place between commentators Vin Scully and Joe Garagiola during Jose Canseco's at bat in the 6th inning:
While the announcers may have been duped, the casual viewer shouldn't have been. His jersey was stretched to mass capacity in attempts to contain his biceps and upper body mass. Clearly a juicer. Those poor kids in Miami.
SCULLY
BUT THEN THAT STERIOD STUFF CAME OUT...
GARAGIOLA
AND THAT WASN'T FAIR.
SCULLY
NO IT WASN'T. BUT HE [CANSECO]SAID
"LOOK AT MY CHARTS," AND THEY
CHECKED THE CHARTS AND BACK IN
1986 HE WEIGHTED 220.
GARAGIOLA
I TALKED TO BARRY WEINBERG,
THE TRAINER, ABOUT IT AND HE'S GOT
THE WHOLE THING CHARTED. AND WHAT'S BEEN
BOTHERING JOSE IS HE SAID, "YOU KNOW
THOSE YOUNG KIDS, ESPECIALLY THOSE
IN MIAMI..." AND HE WORRIES ABOUT THAT
AND THEY'RE GOING TO THINK HE TAKES
STERIODS. THERE IS A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN
STRENGTH AND BODY MASS AND HE JUST WENT
WITH STRENGTH. IT'S JUST NOT FAIR.
BUT THEN THAT STERIOD STUFF CAME OUT...
GARAGIOLA
AND THAT WASN'T FAIR.
SCULLY
NO IT WASN'T. BUT HE [CANSECO]SAID
"LOOK AT MY CHARTS," AND THEY
CHECKED THE CHARTS AND BACK IN
1986 HE WEIGHTED 220.
GARAGIOLA
I TALKED TO BARRY WEINBERG,
THE TRAINER, ABOUT IT AND HE'S GOT
THE WHOLE THING CHARTED. AND WHAT'S BEEN
BOTHERING JOSE IS HE SAID, "YOU KNOW
THOSE YOUNG KIDS, ESPECIALLY THOSE
IN MIAMI..." AND HE WORRIES ABOUT THAT
AND THEY'RE GOING TO THINK HE TAKES
STERIODS. THERE IS A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN
STRENGTH AND BODY MASS AND HE JUST WENT
WITH STRENGTH. IT'S JUST NOT FAIR.
While the announcers may have been duped, the casual viewer shouldn't have been. His jersey was stretched to mass capacity in attempts to contain his biceps and upper body mass. Clearly a juicer. Those poor kids in Miami.
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
There's No Need To Fear, The Beard Is Here
Adam Dunn is gone.
Bobby Abreu is almost gone.
No fear Dodger fans, there’s still…Casey Blake?
If you aren’t scared about not having Manny Ramirez back in the lineup next season, take a look at this projected lineup courtesy of Ken Gurnick.
PROJECTED BATTING ORDER
1. SS Rafael Furcal
2. CF Matt Kemp
3. RF Andre Ethier
4. 3B Casey Blake
5. 1B James Loney
6. C Russell Martin
7. 2B Blake DeWitt
8. LF Juan Pierre
9. Pitcher Spot
If 1,000 random Dodger fans were polled about who the cleanup hitter should be, I don’t think Casey Blake would gather too many votes. In fact, let’s start that poll right here. If Manny Ramirez is not a Dodger in 2009, who should bat cleanup? Vote in the upper right sidebar.
Bobby Abreu is almost gone.
No fear Dodger fans, there’s still…Casey Blake?
If you aren’t scared about not having Manny Ramirez back in the lineup next season, take a look at this projected lineup courtesy of Ken Gurnick.
PROJECTED BATTING ORDER
1. SS Rafael Furcal
2. CF Matt Kemp
3. RF Andre Ethier
4. 3B Casey Blake
5. 1B James Loney
6. C Russell Martin
7. 2B Blake DeWitt
8. LF Juan Pierre
9. Pitcher Spot
If 1,000 random Dodger fans were polled about who the cleanup hitter should be, I don’t think Casey Blake would gather too many votes. In fact, let’s start that poll right here. If Manny Ramirez is not a Dodger in 2009, who should bat cleanup? Vote in the upper right sidebar.
Beimel Still Unemployed
Ken Gurnick has a thoughtful piece on the slow off-season for Joe Beimel. From the article:
There is little doubt that Beimel would help any team that signs him, including the Dodgers. Often used by Joe Torre as nothing more than a situational left-hander, the Dodgers now find themselves with Hong-Chih Kuo as the only proven lefty in the bullpen. Kuo, though fragile, is certainly more valuable to the Dodgers than merely a situational guy.
Beimel's ERA of 2.02 last season is misleading as he was often used during situations that would play into his favor; however, if my recollection serves me correctly, Beimel came through for us more often than not during the past few seasons. If the Dodgers are willing to give Guillermo Mota and his abysmal track record over $2 million for this season they could certainly pony up less, and get more, in Joe Beimel.
He's a job seeker coming off three consistently efficient seasons as a Major League reliever, and left-handed at that. He wasn't looking for Manny Ramirez money, but when the comparable Jeremy Affeldt signed a two-year, $8 million deal with the Giants in November, Beimel (who earned $2.045 million last year) figured he'd be fine.
He figured wrong. The free-agent market suddenly collapsed with the economy, especially at his position. He said he's spoken with 16 teams, none making an offer worth accepting. Not even an offer in hindsight he'd accept.
"It's been strange and I can't put my finger on it," Beimel said. "I put up good numbers three straight years, I'm durable. Usually that means you get a good contract, but it just hasn't happened this year. It's just really weird. I haven't even had a reasonable offer to negotiate with. I don't want to sign just to sign. It's definitely discouraging, but you've got to deal with it. I'll just wait it out."
"People were saying I wanted too much money or years, but neither I nor my agent said anything like that," he said. "I don't know where they're getting it. People don't realize, they think you're holding out for multiyears or a bunch of money. That's not the case with me. I'm just waiting to get something halfway decent. I'm sure as Spring Training goes on, guys get hurt or don't perform and there will be plenty of opportunities."
There is little doubt that Beimel would help any team that signs him, including the Dodgers. Often used by Joe Torre as nothing more than a situational left-hander, the Dodgers now find themselves with Hong-Chih Kuo as the only proven lefty in the bullpen. Kuo, though fragile, is certainly more valuable to the Dodgers than merely a situational guy.
Beimel's ERA of 2.02 last season is misleading as he was often used during situations that would play into his favor; however, if my recollection serves me correctly, Beimel came through for us more often than not during the past few seasons. If the Dodgers are willing to give Guillermo Mota and his abysmal track record over $2 million for this season they could certainly pony up less, and get more, in Joe Beimel.
Monday, February 9, 2009
Illusions of Grandeur
Included in a "notes" posting, Diamond Leung has this gem..."Jason Schmidt has also been throwing bullpen sessions and is apparently pain-free." Gee, where have we heard that before...
"I feel fine out there."
(Jason Schmidt to Ken Gurnick on 6/16/ 2007)
Fine enough to have not thrown a pitch since uttering that line apparently.
"It's just been going so good, you want it to just keep going all spring."
(Again to Gurnick on 2/26/2008)
That quote was just going so good, you want to just keep going over it again and again.
"He's going through a little period -- not hurting -- but maybe he doesn't have the life in his arm he had earlier," said manager Joe Torre. "That's normal for a pitcher. He has no physical problem."
(Torre, after visiting too many opium fields in China during Spring Training on 2/26/08)
You know something I'd be pain free too if I had $45 million in the bank, and haven't had to use my arm in 20 months. Give us a break man.
"I feel fine out there."
(Jason Schmidt to Ken Gurnick on 6/16/ 2007)
Fine enough to have not thrown a pitch since uttering that line apparently.
"It's just been going so good, you want it to just keep going all spring."
(Again to Gurnick on 2/26/2008)
That quote was just going so good, you want to just keep going over it again and again.
"He's going through a little period -- not hurting -- but maybe he doesn't have the life in his arm he had earlier," said manager Joe Torre. "That's normal for a pitcher. He has no physical problem."
(Torre, after visiting too many opium fields in China during Spring Training on 2/26/08)
You know something I'd be pain free too if I had $45 million in the bank, and haven't had to use my arm in 20 months. Give us a break man.
"She is...Gone!"
Last week FSN Prime Ticket covered Game 7 of the 1965 World Series as part of their "Dodger Classics." On the schedule for tomorrow is Game 1 of the 1988 World Series.
I was too young at the time to remember the game, or even know that the Dodgers won. However, having never seen the game in its entirety, you can bet I won't be missing it this time.
I was too young at the time to remember the game, or even know that the Dodgers won. However, having never seen the game in its entirety, you can bet I won't be missing it this time.
Saturday, February 7, 2009
ESPN Has Got It All Wrong
ESPN recently unveiled a list of the top 10 worst contracts in the history of baseball, and on it are some familiar friends. This article was clearly co-written by Jason Schmidt and Andruw Jones as they failed to make the list. $45 million for 1 win? $20 million for a line of .158 /3 /14? Sounds like gold and silver medalists to me.
10. Wayne Garland, Indians, 1977
9. Chan Ho Park, Rangers, 2002
6. Albert Belle, Orioles
10. Wayne Garland, Indians, 1977
9. Chan Ho Park, Rangers, 2002
8. Juan Pierre, Dodgers, 2007
The background: A singles-hitting center fielder who had compiled an OPS better than league average just once in his career, due to an inability to draw walks or hit for power. But he had led the NL five times in caught stealing.
The contract: Five years, $44 million.
The result: Though Pierre is known as one of the good guys in baseball, the Dodgers nonetheless admitted their own mistake after just one season, as they signed Andruw Jones to play center field in 2008. Oops.
7. Gary Matthews Jr., Angels, 20076. Albert Belle, Orioles
5. Darren Dreifort, Dodgers, 2001
The background: Had three good months for the Dodgers at the end of the 2000 season.
The contract: Five years, $55 million.
The result: Despite only 39 career wins and Dreifort's coming off a season in which he allowed 31 home runs, the Dodgers re-signed him to a megabucks deal in the crazy 2000-01 offseason. He won nine games.
4. Denny Neagle, Rockies, 2001
3. Barry Zito, Giants, 2007
2. Mo Vaughn, Angels, 1999
1. Mike Hampton, Rockies, 2001
Friday, February 6, 2009
Randy Wolf signs 1-yr deal
The Dodgers added a much needed arm today.
Wolf pitched for the Dodgers in 2007 and performed well until some shoulder issues flared up. In his first 12 starts he went 7-3, 3.68 ERA, 74/21 K/BB in 71 IP. Obviously these numbers are terrific.
But that hot streak would only last until early June. That's when Wolf struggled in his final 6 starts going 2-3, 7.11 ERA, 20/18 K/BB in 31.2 IP.
His season was over in July and Randy later underwent exploratory surgery in his throwing shoulder to remove some debris. In 2008, Wolf started the season with the Padres and simply didn't pitch very well at all. In 21 starts with SD, Wolf went 6-10, 4.74 ERA, 105/47 K/BB in 119.2 IP.
He was then traded to Houston in before the trade deadline and immediately went on a hot streak. Finishing the season by going 6-2, 3.57 ERA, 57/24 K/BB in 70.2 IP.
You can disect this info in 2 different ways. (1) Randy Wolf isn't very consistent. Or (2) Randy Wolf has finally found his mojo since recovering from 2 arm surgeries in the last 2+ years.
Wolf, 32, is a veteran left-handed pitcher with a good curveball and nice feel for the game. He has the mental makeup to make adjustments in this league and I think he could perform above expectations in 2009. Here's hoping Wolf can continue last year's late-season dominance in 2009.
Wolf pitched for the Dodgers in 2007 and performed well until some shoulder issues flared up. In his first 12 starts he went 7-3, 3.68 ERA, 74/21 K/BB in 71 IP. Obviously these numbers are terrific.
But that hot streak would only last until early June. That's when Wolf struggled in his final 6 starts going 2-3, 7.11 ERA, 20/18 K/BB in 31.2 IP.
His season was over in July and Randy later underwent exploratory surgery in his throwing shoulder to remove some debris. In 2008, Wolf started the season with the Padres and simply didn't pitch very well at all. In 21 starts with SD, Wolf went 6-10, 4.74 ERA, 105/47 K/BB in 119.2 IP.
He was then traded to Houston in before the trade deadline and immediately went on a hot streak. Finishing the season by going 6-2, 3.57 ERA, 57/24 K/BB in 70.2 IP.
You can disect this info in 2 different ways. (1) Randy Wolf isn't very consistent. Or (2) Randy Wolf has finally found his mojo since recovering from 2 arm surgeries in the last 2+ years.
Wolf, 32, is a veteran left-handed pitcher with a good curveball and nice feel for the game. He has the mental makeup to make adjustments in this league and I think he could perform above expectations in 2009. Here's hoping Wolf can continue last year's late-season dominance in 2009.
Shameless Self Promotion
This morning I appeared on Baseball Digest Live and spoke about the current state of the Dodgers. You can listen to the program at the below link, or download it from iTunes in the Podcast section. My segment starts right around the 6:00 mark.
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/Baseball-Digest-Live/
Maybe we'll be blessed with some Manny Ramirez or Randy Wolf closure over the weekend.
(UPDATE: Yes I realize his name is Troncoso, not Troncosco. I made a mistake. But at least I'm not making these kind of blunders.)
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/Baseball-Digest-Live/
Maybe we'll be blessed with some Manny Ramirez or Randy Wolf closure over the weekend.
(UPDATE: Yes I realize his name is Troncoso, not Troncosco. I made a mistake. But at least I'm not making these kind of blunders.)
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Ned Colletti, You Are Such A Tease
Back on January 22nd Ned Colletti said the Dodgers were in talks with several pitchers and would “"sign one of them in the next few days." Sure enough it’s been over two weeks and still no word despite the fact that pitchers and catchers report in only seven days.
With word spreading that Ben Sheets will probably require surgery that leaves Randy Wolf and Braden Looper as the only two pitchers the Dodgers have been linked to.
Listen Ned, I know it’s going to be Randy Wolf. You know it’s going to be Randy Wolf. Please make it final. I need some closure.
With word spreading that Ben Sheets will probably require surgery that leaves Randy Wolf and Braden Looper as the only two pitchers the Dodgers have been linked to.
Listen Ned, I know it’s going to be Randy Wolf. You know it’s going to be Randy Wolf. Please make it final. I need some closure.
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
A Blast From The Past
A sympathetic sigh goes out to those of you who missed last night's broadcast of Game 7 of the 1965 World Series on FSN Prime Ticket. Down 4.5 games with only 16 remaining the Dodgers went on a 15-1 run to finish the 1965 season, and overtook the Giants to reach their third World Series in the past seven years.
Some incredible stats from the 1965 season...
The Twins, having beat Drysdale and Koufax in Game 1 and 2, were riding high until dropping games 3, 4, and 5. Needing to win the last two they succeeded in Game 6; however, ultimately fell to the Dodgers, 2-0, in the deciding game. Not only did Sandy Koufax pitch a 4-hit complete game shutout in Game 5 but he came back in Game 7, on two days rest, and hurled a 3-hit complete game shutout to claim the World Series MVP.
Some observations from the game...
Thanks to FSN Prime Ticket for a look back at Dodger history.
Some incredible stats from the 1965 season...
- Don Drysdale not only batted .300 for the season but led the team in slugging percentage with a .508 mark.
- Sandy Koufax pitched 335 innings during the season.
- No Dodger hit more than 12 home runs the entire year.
- Of the top 5 MVP finalists in 1965, three of them were Dodgers (Koufax-2, Wills-3, Drysdale-5).
The Twins, having beat Drysdale and Koufax in Game 1 and 2, were riding high until dropping games 3, 4, and 5. Needing to win the last two they succeeded in Game 6; however, ultimately fell to the Dodgers, 2-0, in the deciding game. Not only did Sandy Koufax pitch a 4-hit complete game shutout in Game 5 but he came back in Game 7, on two days rest, and hurled a 3-hit complete game shutout to claim the World Series MVP.
Some observations from the game...
- The game takes place in the daytime. When was the last time you recall seeing a World Series game being played during the day?
- Koufax has a NASTY curveball.
- Koufax throws with his left hand but bats on the right hand side of the plate.
- Everyone in the stands is either wearing a dress or a suit.
- NBC split the play by play duties with Vin Scully calling only the latter half of the game.
- Maury Wills is wearing only a baseball hat when batting.
- Instant replays were broadcast in normal speed.
- From my count there are only 5 cameras covering the game, with a high-behind-the-plate angle being shown most of the time.
- Apparently, the only ads on TV in that time were for razors.
- Upon recording the last out to win the World Series, the on-field celebration was less than you'd see in a typical regular season game today.
- There were no champagne celebrations in the clubhouse afterwards.
Thanks to FSN Prime Ticket for a look back at Dodger history.
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
I Got 99 Problems And Manny's Number One
Well that didn't take long. From Dylan Hernandez of the LA Times:
You almost have to believe that the Dodgers are at the point of no return. Having originally offered two years, then cutting it to one, it's hard to imagine them tucking their tails between their legs and increasing their offer in the future. The longer I let this stew, the more evident it becomes that Manny might not be back next season. And, as some have pointed out, that wouldn't be the end of the world.
The stare-down just got more intense. Someone is going to blink soon, and when they open their eyes they might not find anyone looking back at them.
Manny Ramirez wasted no time rejecting the Dodgers' latest offer, a one-year, $25-million proposal that was presented Sunday to his agent, Scott Boras.
In a conversation with Times columnist T.J. Simers late Monday night, Boras said he informed Ramirez about what he classified a suggestion by the Dodgers and that the All-Star outfielder turned it down. Boras said that he informed the Dodgers of Ramirez's decision.
The Dodgers could find themselves in a bind if Ramirez receives a multi-year offer from another club. If Ramirez is offered what he considers a fair deal, sources close to him say that he wouldn't grant the Dodgers a chance to match it.
You almost have to believe that the Dodgers are at the point of no return. Having originally offered two years, then cutting it to one, it's hard to imagine them tucking their tails between their legs and increasing their offer in the future. The longer I let this stew, the more evident it becomes that Manny might not be back next season. And, as some have pointed out, that wouldn't be the end of the world.
The stare-down just got more intense. Someone is going to blink soon, and when they open their eyes they might not find anyone looking back at them.
Monday, February 2, 2009
Oh The Times, They Are A' Changing
Not that Dodger Thoughts needs the publicity but they are moving to a new location, and can now be found online courtesy of the LA Times. All of us here at Reflections of Blue have been reading Dodger Thoughts for several years and fully acknowledge they are the gold standard in the world of Dodger blogs. Jon always seems to convey the news, and his thoughts, without hammering personal opinions into your head.
Well wishes on your new adventure, Jon. We'd follow you anywhere.
Well wishes on your new adventure, Jon. We'd follow you anywhere.
Sunday, February 1, 2009
Advantage Organizations?
Since the dawn of free agency in the 1970’s the player has held the monetary upper hand over the organization. As the player is the one in demand he thus controls the supply options, often coming from multiple teams. However, are the economic effects of this off-season breeding a “take it or leave it” mentality, thus causing the advantage to shift sides?
Take for example the recent signing of Jon Garland. Despite declining stats over the past four seasons his annual salary has increased almost four fold.
Upon declining arbitration at the end of last season Garland passed on at least $12 million and later settled for a little over $6 million. Was the economy really to blame for this, or did owners successfully parlay a negative economic mindset to their benefit?
Is the housing market truly the reason why Andy Pettitte, who earned $16 million the last three years, will now play for only $5.5 million in 2010. Surely the Yankees aren’t hurting for cash. After all they just forked over $400 million for three guys this off-season.
And the failing banks are the reason Jason Varitek will be working for half his going rate in 2010, right? Varitek, who flirted with the Mendoza Line in 2008, declined arbitration and opted to test the waters of free agency during the off-season. However, realizing the lack of interest from other clubs, he pleaded for the Red Sox to bring him back. Varitek even claimed he declined arbitration because of unfamiliarity with the rules surrounding it, even though he is represented by “Super Agent” Scott Boras. Surely a “Super Agent” should know these things. In the end Boston extended a $5 million offer, refused to budge and even set a deadline for signing. Realizing it was the best offer available, Varitek caved and signed the smaller contract.
The above examples are only a small sampling for what is taking place all over baseball. Are bloated salaries simply taking a break until the economy recovers? Will the organizations realize they control the market and decide to slash salaries across the board from this point on? Will the Dodgers act on this and actually lower their offer for Manny Ramirez? Interesting times ahead indeed.
Take for example the recent signing of Jon Garland. Despite declining stats over the past four seasons his annual salary has increased almost four fold.
Upon declining arbitration at the end of last season Garland passed on at least $12 million and later settled for a little over $6 million. Was the economy really to blame for this, or did owners successfully parlay a negative economic mindset to their benefit?
Is the housing market truly the reason why Andy Pettitte, who earned $16 million the last three years, will now play for only $5.5 million in 2010. Surely the Yankees aren’t hurting for cash. After all they just forked over $400 million for three guys this off-season.
And the failing banks are the reason Jason Varitek will be working for half his going rate in 2010, right? Varitek, who flirted with the Mendoza Line in 2008, declined arbitration and opted to test the waters of free agency during the off-season. However, realizing the lack of interest from other clubs, he pleaded for the Red Sox to bring him back. Varitek even claimed he declined arbitration because of unfamiliarity with the rules surrounding it, even though he is represented by “Super Agent” Scott Boras. Surely a “Super Agent” should know these things. In the end Boston extended a $5 million offer, refused to budge and even set a deadline for signing. Realizing it was the best offer available, Varitek caved and signed the smaller contract.
The above examples are only a small sampling for what is taking place all over baseball. Are bloated salaries simply taking a break until the economy recovers? Will the organizations realize they control the market and decide to slash salaries across the board from this point on? Will the Dodgers act on this and actually lower their offer for Manny Ramirez? Interesting times ahead indeed.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
