NEWS/RUMORS/DISCUSSION Thread

Puig tops Dodgers' rebound wish list
Ryu, Grandal, Utley, Crawford among others eyeing '16 bouncebacks
by Ken Gurnick | MLB.com — 47 minutes ago

LOS ANGELES — Dodgers pitchers and catchers report to Spring Training next week. In anticipation, Dodgers.com presents a series of articles previewing preparations for the 2016 season.

The first installment is "On the Rebound," covering players coming off injuries or disappointing 2015 seasons.

OF Yasiel Puig: New manager Dave Roberts gets his shot at reining in the multi-talented but undisciplined Puig, who alienated the previous regime with his antics. Offseason talking points have centered on Puig's conditioning and physique because of last year's injuries, although that doesn't address the behavior issues that have defined him. That said, he can be a difference-maker when the planets align.

LHP Hyun-Jin Ryu: No setbacks so far, but it's asking a lot for a pitcher to immediately regain form after missing an entire season because of shoulder surgery. Management believes it has the starting depth to ease Ryu back with lowered expectations, even though he's determined to be ready when the season starts.

C Yasmani Grandal: An All-Star the first half, his bat disappeared down the stretch, and the blame was placed on an arthritic left shoulder that was surgically repaired. Grandal, 27, not only must bounce back from that, but shake growing evidence that he's injury prone.

INF Chase Utley: The club is betting $7 million that 2015 was an injury-marred aberration for Utley, even though he's now 37. He projects as a rotational partner with second baseman Howie Kendrick and third baseman Justin Turner. It was only 2014 when he drove in 78 runs.

OF Carl Crawford: Once one of the game's true power/speed talents, Crawford hasn't had a full, healthy season since 2010. The Dodgers would settle for a platoon year like he had in 2014, but his numbers generally are trending in the wrong direction.

OF Joc Pederson: He was a first-half sensation, but the rookie crashed and burned down the stretch, unable to adjust. Management is hoping new hitting coaches can get Pederson back to that 30/30 quality he showed at Triple-A in 2014 and away from the boom-or-bust slugger he became last year.

RHP Brandon Beachy: The team and player are persistent in this recovery, even though it is now four years and two Tommy John surgeries removed from his flash of brilliance in Atlanta.

 

one thing to be a douche
but a racist douche...
well played delmon
i wouldn't expect any teams to come calling anytime soon
jerkoff

Delmon Young charged with attacking parking attendant
by David Fischer | Associated Press

MIAMI (AP) — Free agent outfielder Delmon Young was arrested after he choked and threatened a parking attendant at a Miami hotel Sunday night, police said.

Young, a 30-year-old who appeared in 52 games for the Baltimore Orioles last year, grabbed the attendant's neck and called him a "stupid Cuban," according to an arrest report. The attendant told police he had refused to let Young on an elevator to a club at the Viceroy Miami because the club was closed. Young left the area for a short time, then returned and attacked the attendant again, the report said.

The attendant got away and called police. Hotel security staff was familiar with Young and directed officers to his condominium, which is located in the hotel's rear tower.

Young told police he didn't know anything about the attack on the attendant, the report said. An officer went on to describe Young's behavior as belligerent.

Young was arrested and charged with battery. He was released Monday morning on $1,500 bail, according to jail records.

His attorney declined to comment on Monday.

Young was suspended for seven days by Major League Baseball in 2012 after his arrest in New York City. Police said then Young yelled anti-Semitic epithets during a late-night, drunken tussle. He pleaded guilty later that year to aggravated harassment, was ordered to complete 10 days of community service and to enroll in a program at the Museum of Tolerance New York as part of the Manhattan District Attorney's office restorative justice program.

Young was the first pick overall in the 2003 amateur draft and made his big league debut with the Devil Rays in 2006. He also played for Minnesota (2008-11), Detroit (2011-12), Philadelphia (2013) before a second stint with the Rays in 2013 and two seasons with the Orioles. He has a .283 average in 10 big league seasons with 109 homers and 566 RBIs.

While playing for Triple-A Durham in the minor leagues in 2006, he was suspended for 50 games for flinging his bat underhanded, which struck an umpire, following a called third strike. Young said he did not mean to hit the umpire, who was a fill-in while regular minor league umpires were on strike.​

 

I dont think stamina is an issue for this team at catcher.
Ellis is one of the best backups in the game, and Barnes is probably the best MLB ready catcher in all the minors.
And as far as roids... didnt he have a injury last season going into the second half?

 

Giants avoid arbitration with Brandon Belt
by Jeff Todd | MLB Trade Rumors — 84 minutes ago

The Giants have avoided arbitration with first baseman Brandon Belt by agreeing to a one-year deal, Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle tweets. He’ll receive $6.2MM, Jon Heyman tweets.

The sides had seemed headed for a hearing. MLBTR projected Belt to earn the exact amount he ultimately received in his second (and second-to-last) trip through arbitration. He filed for $7.5MM, with the team countering at $5.3MM to create a $6.4MM midpoint.

Soon to turn 28, the smooth-swinging lefty has been a steady and excellent performer for San Francisco. Since debuting back in 2011, he’s racked up just over 2,000 plate appearances with a cumulative .271/.347/.456 batting line and 63 home runs. And he not only delivers a high-quality glove at first, but has shown the ability to fill in at the corner outfield in a pinch.

After an injury-shortened 2014, Belt got back on track in 2015 and was running numbers comparable to his excellent 2013 campaign before running into concussion issues late in the year. He is expected to be ready for a full spring, though, and health matters don’t appear to be much of a concern for the team.

There are indications that a long-term deal could be a consideration. And, indeed, the Giants already struck a deal with fellow 4+ service-time stalwart Brandon Crawford. Belt has always seemed a more tenuous fit in an extension scenario, though, as he occupies a position that could eventually house star catcher Buster Posey depending upon how things progress.

 

Magic: Roberts capable of motivating players
by Matthew Moreno | Dodger Blue — 4 hours ago



While much of the Los Angeles Dodgers roster from last season returns in 2016, the club will be led by first-year manager Dave Roberts. He replaces Don Mattingly, who went 446-363 in five seasons as manager of the Dodgers.

Under Mattingly, Los Angeles won three consecutive National League West division titles for the first time in franchise history, and have strung together three straights seasons with at least 90 wins for the first time since 1976-78.

However, postseason success has continued to evade the Dodgers. They’ve yet to advance beyond the first round since reaching the National League Championship Series in 2013.

With Andrew Friedman taking over as president of baseball operations, a managerial change was seemingly inevitable.

Mattingly and the Dodgers called their parting this offseason a “mutual” separation. In an interview with ESPN’s Hannah Storm, Dodgers part owner Magic Johnson said he believes Roberts is the manager for the roster in place:

“He’s not far removed from being a player, he used to play for the Dodgers, and I think all those things really allowed Andrew and the team there with the Dodgers to say, ‘Hey, we want Dave as our manager.’ I think he can relate to the players and motivate them. Right now, we have a veteran team with a blend of some nice, young talented guys. We want the right manager to be able to put them in position to win.”​

Since his introductory press conference, Roberts has stressed the importance of establishing strong relationships and trust between himself and the players. Yasiel Puig has been labeled one of his focal points, and the two met for the first time at the Jan. 30 FanFest event.

Roberts will get to work with his complete roster on Feb. 25 for the first full-squad workout of Spring Training.

 

obviously to placate:ned:

Dodgers give Brandon Hicks NRI to spring training
by Matthew Moreno | Dodger Blue — 90 minutes ago



Former San Francisco Giants infielder Brandon Hicks was extended a non-roster invitation to Spring Training by the Los Angeles Dodgers. Hicks signed a Minor-League contract with the Dodgers, which was first reported by Baseball America’s Matt Eddy.

Hicks becomes the 21st player to receive a non-roster invite to big league camp from Los Angeles. Selected in the third round of the 2007 draft by the Atlanta Braves, Hicks last played in the Majors with the Giants during the 2014 season.

He appeared in 71 games with San Francisco, batting .162/.280/.319 with eight home runs, 22 RBIs, 77 strikeouts and 32 walks in 242 plate appearances.

The 30-year-old infielder played in five games at the outset of last season, but missed the first half due to injury and never reached the Majors.

Hicks did play 45 games for Triple-A Sacramento in 2015. During that time he hit .220/.308/.326 with two home runs, seven doubles and 20 RBIs.

Hicks is a career .153/.258/.310 hitter in parts of four seasons with the Braves, Oakland Athletics and Giants. He’s a lifetime .244/.333/.427 batter in the Minors, with 99 home runs.

Hicks played second base, third base, shortstop, first base and left field during his career; the bulk of which has come at second base and shortstop.​

 

pretty good chance this gets known as the utley rule at some point

MLB making progress in rule change for 2B slides
By Eric Avakian | Dodger Blue — 90 minutes ago

In similar fashion to a rule change being implemented at home plate after San Francisco Giants catcher Buster Posey suffered a serious injury, Major League Baseball and the Players Association is heading down a path to reform.

While the topic of discussion has been previously discussed, the issue came to the forefront last season when Chicago Cubs utility man Chris Coghlan broke Pittsburgh Pirates infielder Jung Ho Kang’s leg last September, ending his season.

New York Mets shortstop Ruben Tejada then suffered the same fate in Game 2 of the National League Division Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Chase Utley’s late slide, which was called dirty by some, sent Tejada into the air and broke the shortstop’s left fibula.

Not only did Utley did break up the double play attempt, he was ruled safe at second base, and the Dodgers went on to win the game. However, they were eliminated by the Mets in five games.

Amid ongoing talks this offseason to implement a new rule, ESPN’s Buster Olney reports change may be on the horizon:

Progress has been made in Major League Baseball’s effort to change the rules about slides into second base, sources told ESPN.​

The focus of a potential rule change appears centered around runners being within reach of the base or making an effort to do so:

In the ongoing talks between the union and MLB, the sides have been able to find a lot of common ground, and sources expect a change in time for the start of the upcoming season. The sides “will get there,” one source familiar with the negotiations told ESPN. Within the rule alterations being discussed, there is a focus on ensuring that sliding runners either touch the base or make an effort to touch the base.​

While the Players Association welcomes a new rule, they’re mindful of the impact it may have on how the game is played:

Although the union wants to improve safety for middle infielders, it does not want to eliminate players’ aggressiveness on slides or the ability to break up a double play. However, there is a desire on both sides to eliminate slides on which a baserunner goes beyond the effort to reach second to make contact with middle infielders.​

Utley was suspended two games for his slide, but appealed the decision and remained eligible throughout the NLDS. He expects the appeal hearing to be held at some point during Spring Training.

Whether Utley’s original suspension is upheld or reduced to one game, he will need to serve it once the 2016 season begins.​

 

Pederson could be difference maker
by Justin Russo | Dodgers Nation — 2 hours ago

Last season, Los Angeles Dodgers center fielder Joc Pederson took baseball by storm in the first half of the year only to fall on his face offensively during the second half. Still, despite that, Pederson finished his rookie campaign with a .763 OPS and tallied 2.8 Wins Above Replacement.

Despite a brutal second half that saw him only OPS .617 and strikeout 63 times in 219 plate appearances, Pederson could be one of the bats that helps decide the National League West race. If the Dodgers get First Half Joc, they’ll be a force. If they get Second Half Joc, they could be a wreck.

From Lyle Spencer at MLB dot com:

The Dodgers believe the 23-year-old center fielder is too talented to let that happen again, but he needs to make adjustments to exploit his skills. In early-attack mode, Pederson hit .386 and slugged .841 on 44 first pitches put in play, and .432/.838 on 1-0 counts. With two strikes, he fell to .140, striking out 170 times with 44 walks. Patience is a virtue, but pitchers’ counts can bury a hitter.​

Pederson hit .474 against first pitch fastballs last season so, while he wants to remain patient at the plate, perhaps turning to a more aggressive approach against early-count fastballs could yield a turnaround in his performance.

Whether or not Pederson figures out what ailed him during the second half of the season will be one of the intriguing storylines of training camp and Spring Training. The team needs him to perform, and they need him to perform well or else their season could be a dud.

The upside with Pederson is that he’s still young – he turns 24 in April – and still learning. If he turns into an Adam Dunn type with quality center field defense, even that isn’t the worst thing in the world. He just needs to find his game, and the Dodgers hope he can. Their season might depend on it.

 

Washington Post picking Dodgers to win NL West
by Justin Russo | Dodgers Nation — 90 minutes ago

News is flying around about how the Los Angeles Dodgers might not win the division this season because of the moves made by the San Francisco Giants and Arizona Diamondbacks. However, that news doesn’t seem to have put a damper on the Washington Post’s prediction.

Today, the major newspaper site released an article saying that the Dodgers are their pick to win the NL West. It didn’t come without questions though, and one of them was a very major one regarding their starting pitching staff. But they did have them at the top still. And that counts for something.

From Barry Svrluga at the Washington Post:
Why they’ll win the division: Five words: Financial muscle and Clayton Kershaw.

That’s a real simple and concise answer when you think about it. It certainly doesn’t hurt to have the best pitcher in the game; a pitcher so dominant that the Washington Post had to note that his 2.11 ERA over the last five seasons is a full half-a-run lower than anyone else in baseball over that span. He’s good.

Their spending resources are also adequately listed. The Dodgers basically print money, and if they think they need to acquire an impact player by the time the trade deadline rolls around then they could just throw some cash into the deal to get it done. They have that ability.

But there is a major question still out there: Do they have enough starting pitching to replace Greinke?

That’s the elephant in the room right now. No one knows. We’d all like to believe that the Dodgers have enough pitching to replace Cy Young Award runner-up Zack Greinke, but we simply don’t know. The team possesses depth in the rotation that most teams would be jealous of, but is it enough?

We’ll just have to sit back and let the season play out in order to see the answer to that question. With Kershaw at the helm, money in their pockets, and some youth mixed in with some veteran experience, the Dodgers certainly do seem poised for a fourth straight NL West title.

 

lol...

MOM: "Go to the team that you feel most comfortable with honey."
DAD: "Fuck that shit. Go to whoever pays you the most. We want off this rock too bkitch!!!"​