DODGERS NEWS/RUMORS/AROUND MLB Thread

Discussion in 'Los Angeles DODGERS' started by KOUFAX0000, Jan 24, 2015.

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  1. irish

    irish DSP Staff Member Administrator

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  2. Chiefdodgerslkrs24

    Chiefdodgerslkrs24 Among the Pantheon

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  3. Chiefdodgerslkrs24

    Chiefdodgerslkrs24 Among the Pantheon

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    He was actually pretty good for 3 whole years.
     
  4. irish

    irish DSP Staff Member Administrator

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    Spring Training: Alex Guerrero spends time at Third Base
    by Matthew Moreno | Dodgers Nation — 44 minutes ago

    [​IMG]

    It’s been one long year for Alex Guerrero since he first joined the Los Angeles Dodgers in Spring Training. At the time, Guerrero, signed a four-year, $28 million contract, entered camp under the expectation that he would win the second-base job.

    Instead, Dee Gordon took hold of the competition and never relented. Outside of a pinch-hit appearance in the Dodgers’ second game of the Opening Series in Australia, Guerrero spent the season in the Minors and didn’t return to the Majors until September when active rosters expanded.

    Now in his second Spring Training with the Dodgers, Guerrero is largely without a position, but got work in at third base on Saturday, reports J.P. Hoornstra of the LA Daily news:
    [​IMG]
    A natural shortstop, Guerrero played second and third base, shortstop, and left field as he spent time with the Dodgers’ Rookie League, High-A and Triple-A affiliates. With the Isotopes, Guerrero played 51 of 65 games at second base; the next-highest total was nine games played in left field.

    After being called up to the Majors, Guerrero primarily served as a pinch-hitter and only saw the field when he played in left for 14 innings (three games) as a replacement. The 28 year old managed to get just one hit in 13 plate appearances with the Dodgers, which was a far cry from his success in the Minors.

    From April 13 to May 20, Guerrero hit .376/.417/.735 with 10 home runs and 29 RBIs over 33 games (127 plate appearances). His season was then derailed by an altercation with teammate Miguel Olivo during which the catcher bit off a portion of Guerrero’s ear that forced him to miss nearly two months.

    While Guerrero batted .304/.343/.542 with seven home runs and 28 RBIs after returning, he missed out on an expected promotion to the Majors at the time of his fight with Olivo as the Dodgers were in need of an infielder and instead turned to Erisbel Arruebarrena.

    Being that Guerrero’s bat hasn’t been the question, the Dodgers’ primary challenge is finding a position for him. Should Guerrero prove to play a capable third base, he could be an option next season as Juan Uribe is entering the final year of his contract.
     
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  5. KOUFAX0000

    KOUFAX0000 DSP Legend Damned

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    No. He wasn't.
     
  6. Chiefdodgerslkrs24

    Chiefdodgerslkrs24 Among the Pantheon

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    He was. You and others just overlooked him. .294 with 130 stolen bases in 3 years is good.
     
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  7. irish

    irish DSP Staff Member Administrator

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    Steve Yeager praises Yasmani Grandal
    by Matthew Moreno | Dodgers Nation — 15 minutes ago

    [​IMG]
    Jon SooHoo-Los Angeles Dodgers

    With a new front office regime in place, the Los Angeles Dodgers’ roster underwent sweeping changes over the course of the offseason. Generally viewed as their biggest move, the Dodgers packaged a resurgent and fan-favorite Matt Kemp with Tim Federowicz to the San Diego Padres for Yasmani Grandal and two pitching prospects.

    At 26 years old, Grandal not only represents a younger option at catcher than A.J. Ellis, but he’s also superior in pitch framing and as a switch-hitter, offers additional versatility. However, where Grandal trails Ellis is in familiarity with the pitching staff and organization as a whole.

    However, it may not be long before Grandal grows comfortable with the pitchers as his work ethic was among the traits Steve Yeager praised, via Lyle Spencer of MLB.com:

    "I like what I see and what I hear from him," Yeager said. "It takes time to gain the respect of the pitching staff and teammates whenever a catcher comes from somewhere else, but some of them already know him. In the old Dodger tradition, we've welcomed him with open arms. He has come in with a good attitude; you don't have to go looking for him. He's right there, ready to go to work."

    Including a live bullpen session on Saturday, Grandal’s caught Clayton Kershaw on multiple occasions, among other pitchers. Grandal believes he’s already learned from those he’s catching and will continue to do so:

    "In a short time," Grandal said, "I've already learned a lot. Getting to know the guys, catching bullpens, I'm getting a feel for how they throw. Everything comes with time. Once the games start [on Wednesday], it'll definitely come a little faster."

    While manager Don Mattingly has yet to decide on the details, Ellis and Grandal will form a platoon behind the plate. The general consensus predicts Ellis will handle Kershaw’s starts, which Mattingly denied but was a notion Grandal supported. No matter how the situation ultimately shakes out, the Dodgers figure to have their most formidable catching option(s) since the Russell Martin era.
     
  8. MZA

    MZA MODERATOR Staff Member

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    Sometimes, you have to remember who you're talking to.
     
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  9. carolinabluedodger

    carolinabluedodger DSP Legend

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    I've stated this many times on several different forums. Pierre is vilified by Dodger fans because he signed a contract. Because of the amount of the contract fans expected him to do things beyond his skill set. After he signed the contract he delivered performance that was very close to his career averages. So the bottom line is Dodger fans hated him for performing at a level that was to be expected, because he was being paid more than he should have been paid. Blame Ned, blame Frank, but don't blame Juan.
     
  10. Doughty8

    Doughty8 DSP Legend

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    Over 2,000 hits in the mlb is impressive no matter what anyone else says. If you loved what Dee did for us last year then there is no way you can do a reverse and hate on Juan IMHO. I know I'm going to get hate.
     
  11. KOUFAX0000

    KOUFAX0000 DSP Legend Damned

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    Racist!

    I hate you!:)
     
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  12. KOUFAX0000

    KOUFAX0000 DSP Legend Damned

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    Give me Andruw Jones over Stymie any day of the week.

    :ned:
     
  13. KOUFAX0000

    KOUFAX0000 DSP Legend Damned

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    Fuck that whiny hypocritical bitch.

    "Beast Mode doesn't make excuses. It doesn't complain. Whatever you're doing, go out there and get it done. Keep pushing. If I have a bad game, I think about what I have to do to return to form. Figure it out, go to sleep, and wake up a new man."

    -Matt Kemp



    I love that first line. So Beast Mode only pouts like a six year old?

    FU Matt Kemp and the Madres.
     
  14. N.Z

    N.Z DSP Legend

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    Crawford and Ethier battling it out for LF? SVS was better than them both. I hope none of them play against a lefty ever.
     
  15. LASports96

    LASports96 DSP Legend

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    Crawford and Ethier have no battles on going on the field, Crawford is clearly a superior player at this point.
     
  16. Chiefdodgerslkrs24

    Chiefdodgerslkrs24 Among the Pantheon

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    There is no reason Ethier can't be just as good or better if given the opportunity.
     
  17. N.Z

    N.Z DSP Legend

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    How about in 2014 he had about as much muscle mass as a pre-teen girl?
     
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  18. irish

    irish DSP Staff Member Administrator

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    o no u dint :nono:
     
  19. irish

    irish DSP Staff Member Administrator

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    Dodgers catcher Yasmani Grandal has impressed at Camp Boomer, presided over by Dodgers coach Steve "Boomer" Yeager, MLB.com reports.

    "I like what I see and what I hear from him," Yeager said. "It takes time to gain the respect of the pitching staff and teammates whenever a catcher comes from somewhere else, but some of them already know him. In the old Dodger tradition, we've welcomed him with open arms. He has come in with a good attitude; you don't have to go looking for him. He's right there, ready to go to work."

    Grandal was acquired this offseason as the centerpiece in the trade that sent outfielder Matt Kemp to San Diego.

    "In a short time, I've already learned a lot," Grandal said. "Getting to know the guys, catching bullpens, I'm getting a feel for how they throw. Everything comes with time. Once the games start [on Wednesday], it'll definitely come a little faster. I need to get to know what guys are looking for in a catcher, what their mentality is. Some guys like you to give them a pat on the back. With others, it's a different approach."

    Grandal is expected to share time behind the plate with incumbent starter A.J. Ellis this season.

    http://fantasynews.cbssports.com/fa...ndal-impressing-early-at-camp?FTAG=YHF8a562c3
     
  20. irish

    irish DSP Staff Member Administrator

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    Adrian Gonzalez Focusing On Longevity
    by Matthew Moreno | Dodgers Nation — 6 hours ago

    For the ninth-straight season in 2014, Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman Adrian Gonzalez played over 150 games. It wasn’t always pretty for Gonzalez, but he proved to be a commodity in an infield that lost Hanley Ramirez and Juan Uribe to injury, and catcher A.J. Ellis to multiple stints on the disabled list.

    Gonzalez slumped through May and into June before turning his fortunes around at the plate, doing so well enough to finish with an MLB-best 116 RBIs and the Silver Slugger Award at first base. Entering his age-33 season, Gonzalez says he’s realized putting up big numbers is very much a marathon, via Dylan Hernandez of the LA Times:

    “I think when you get to a certain level, you understand it’s more of a process than a fight to get to certain places statistically,” he said.

    Gonzalez was one of multiple Dodgers who worked out regularly at Chavez Ravine and spoke of the advantage of establishing an understanding with strength and conditioning coach Brandon McDaniel:

    “It’s a huge upside to have a guy who’s going to train you all season be the guy watching you,” Gonzalez said. “He knows my body, he knows what I did this off-season. He gets to know me. That way, in the season, he knows when to back off, he knows when we should put the foot on the pedal and do more weights.”

    Along with working out at Dodger Stadium, Gonzalez was a regular at Freddie Roach’s gym, where boxer Manny Pacquiao trains.

    On top of having Gonzalez under contract through the 2018 season, his remaining healthy moving forward, particularly in 2015, is of great importance now that the Dodger offense will be without the threats of Matt Kemp and Hanley Ramirez.

    Gonzalez figures to not only face expectations of again being an RBI-hitter for the Dodgers, but also serving as protection for other batters in the lineup.

     
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