NEWS/RUMORS/DISCUSSION Thread

Cubanos are indigenous/island people/caribbean
Grandal is as white as Cameron Diaz and the many other white people from the island of Cuba
You can be Mexican or Venezuelan or Colombian it doesnt matter as long as you can pass for white in order to get the free pass.
Martin Sheen and Charlie Sheen can look at their Estevez birth certificates all they want... they still white.
Look at the free pass Charlie gets.
And Kim Kardashian.

 

does your hypothesis include barry obama?

 

Versatile Dodgers infield projects as best in years
by Stacie Wheeler | Dodger Blue — 6 hours ago



The Los Angeles Dodgers solidified their top-notch infield for 2016 by re-signing veteran Howie Kendrick to a two-year, $20 million contract.

With butter-and-egg man Adrian Gonzalez at first base, Justin Turner at third base and baseball’s No. 1 prospect Corey Seager at shortstop, the Dodgers boast potentially the best, and most versatile infield they have had in many years.

Chase Utley and Kiké Hernandez add even more depth to the infield, as they both provide flexibility to play multiple positions. In Hernandez’s case, the super-utility player can patrol the outfield as well.

It is undeniable that Arizona Diamondbacks first baseman and resident Dodgers-dominator Paul Goldschmidt is the premier first baseman of the National League and netted the D-Backs an extra seven wins last season.

Although not on the same level as Goldschmidt, Gonzalez has consistently been a productive member of the Dodgers since they acquired him from the Boston Red Sox. The 33 year old has averaged 102 RBIs over the past three seasons, playing in all but 14 games during that span.

Gonzalez’s 0.2 dWAR and mere six errors netted him a Gold Glove Award and the admiration of Dodgers fans in 2014 for his defensive work. Reliable and productive, Gonzalez can be looked to put up another three-win season for the Dodgers in 2016, while again providing solid defense.

Kendrick, a steadfast second baseman, may also be asked to play some third base, which would provide the Dodgers even more flexibility around the infield.

Although Dee Gordon’s success with the Miami Marlins has left a bitter taste in the mouths of many fans, Kendrick has proven over his 10-year Major-League career that he is reliable and productive when healthy.

It was not too long ago when Justin Sellers was the Dodgers’ starting shortstop on Opening Day, and then there was Hanley Ramirez’s often cringe-worthy rendition of shortstop thereafter.

Jimmy Rollins taking over at shortstop last season provided a boost in confidence with the middle infield configuration. That confidence should grow exponentially in 2016 with Seager set for his first full season as the Dodgers’ starting shortstop.

While he may eventually slide over to third base, the 21 year old looked quite capable up the middle despite his large frame. A miscue (failure to cover third) during the NLDS may have drawn attention to Seager’s inexperience, but continued work alongside the veteran group of Dodgers infielders will certainly aid his development.

Since winning a spot on the roster out of Spring Training in 2014, Turner has breathed new life into his career. He secured the starting role at third base last May after the Dodgers traded away defensive wizard Juan Uribe to the Atlanta Braves.

Of course, Nolan Arenado of the Colorado Rockies is the best third baseman in the National League, if not all of baseball, but should Turner manage to play in a career-high number of games this season, the Dodgers will be on their way to a fourth consecutive NL West division title.

The depth and flexibility, solid defense and projected offense from Dodgers infielders stacks up against the best infields within their division, namely the rival San Francisco Giants and improved Rockies.

While the Giants once again will have a talented infield that includes Brandon Belt, Joe Panik, Matt Duffy and Brandon Crawford, they will need to remain healthy in order to overcome the Dodgers’ depth.

Los Angeles also has several promising infield prospects in their pipeline such as, second baseman Micah Johnson, who was acquired this offseason from the Chicago White Sox and 20-year-old first baseman Cody Bellinger, who slugged 30 home runs for High-A Rancho Cucamonga last season.

While the 2016 Dodgers infield may not be as iconic as Davey Lopez, Ron Cey, Bill Russell and Steve Garvey were, the foursome and depth behind them will offer more defensive flexibility and most certainly remind us of the importance of a compatible infield.

 

Kendrick hopes identity gets established during spring training
by Daniel Starkand | Dodger Blue — 3 hours ago

The offseason days are dwindling down as Los Angeles Dodgers pitchers and catchers are due at Camelback Ranch for the start of Spring Training on Friday, Feb. 19. Position players follow five days later, and the club’s first full-squad workout is scheduled for Feb. 25.

While Los Angeles may still extend non-roster invitations to Spring Training, as they did with infielder Brandon Hicks on Wednesday, the core of the roster appears all but set.

The final piece to the puzzle came when the Dodgers somewhat surprisingly re-signed second baseman Howie Kendrick to a two-year, $20 million contract.

Kendrick previously rejected the Dodgers’ one-year, $15.8 million qualifying offer, which ultimately impacted his free agency and list of suitors.

Kendrick figures to slot in as the starting second baseman, though manager Dave Roberts indicated the 32 year old may also get a look at third base.

Despite much of the roster from last season returning, particularly the projected starting position players, Kendrick believes the Dodgers will need to find their identity during Spring Training, according to Jon Weisman of Dodger Insider:

“Teams are gonna go through changes,” he said. “I think the biggest thing is just trying to figure out who we are as a team. That’s why we have Spring Training. Hopefully guys will get in and mesh well, and we get all the pieces in the right places. … The core of the team is still there, and then you add some new pieces in. There’s a bunch of really good guys on this team, and I don’t see that being a problem adding the new pieces. It’s just finding that that fine-tuned area, where everybody gets on the same page. And as long as we play the game well when we get out on the field, and we do the fundamentals, I think we won’t have any problem winning ballgames.”​

Along with potentially getting moved around the infield, Kendrick is also capable of hitting at multiple spots in the lineup. Last season started games in which he hit second, third, fourth and fifth in the lineup.

Kendrick then was penciled in the leadoff spot in Game 2 of the National League Division Series against the New York Mets. While Roberts takes over a team that’s had plenty of success over the past three seasons, the Dodgers are still in search of for their first World Series title since 1988.

Roberts will have the benefit of a deep lineup and bench, which Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman said he expects to be a strength this season.

 

the #14 pick for gallardo? :crazy:

Sources: O's in serious talks with RHP Gallardo
ESPN.com news services | 8 hours ago

The Baltimore Orioles are in negotiations with free-agent right-hander Yovani Gallardo on a three-year deal in the range of $40-45 million, sources told ESPN's Buster Olney.

Gallardo, 29, went 13-11 last season for the Texas Rangers with a 3.42 ERA. He has thrown no fewer than 180 innings in each of the past seven seasons, but last year he posted a 1.42 WHIP, the highest of his career, and his 121 strikeouts were his fewest since an injury-shortened 2008 campaign with the Brewers.

With the Orioles' signing of Gallardo seen as highly likely, the team would relinquish their first-round pick, No. 14 overall, in this year's MLB draft. As a result, the team would become more open to giving up its second-round pick to sign another free agent.

Baltimore has serious interest in signing outfielder Dexter Fowler to a deal in the neighborhood of two years and $20 million, sources told Olney.

Fowler, like Gallardo, declined a qualifying offer from his team this offseason and thus will cost any team a draft pick should they sign him in free agency. Last season with the Chicago Cubs, he hit .250 with 17 home runs and 102 runs scored.​

 

ray:
Dodgers shopping Guerrero
by Matthew Moreno | Dodger Blue — 11 minutes ago

While the Los Angeles Dodgers added to their deep crop of infielders and outfielders this offseason, the depth lends to some roster questions. With Howie Kendrick’s re-signing the infield is all but set, with Corey Seager replacing Jimmy Rollins at shortstop, however there are some questions in the outfield.

Joc Pederson and Yasiel Puig are expected to regain their starting jobs in center and right field, respectively. Andre Ethier’s bounce back 2015 season lends to the belief he’ll start in left field ahead of Carl Crawford.

Beyond that, Kiké Hernandez, Chase Utley, Scott Van Slyke and one of Crawford or Ethier are there to provide production of the bench. Alex Guerrero is also included in that group, though he is often the forgotten one.

With plenty of outfielders ahead of him on the depth chart, the Dodgers tried Guerrero at third base last spring.

He proved serviceable at the position and swung a hot bat out of the gate last season. However, Guerrero eventually cooled at the plate and ultimately became a piece that didn’t quite mesh with the roster.

Facing the prospect of being buried on the depth chart this season, Guerrero reportedly is being shopped in trade talks, according to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports:

Ken Rosenthal ✔ @Ken_Rosenthal
Sources: #Dodgers trying to trade IF/OF Alex Guerrero. Talking to
numerous teams. Fits best with an AL club.
11:35 AM - 11 Feb 2016 ​

Guerrero batted .423/.429/.1.077 with five home runs and 13 RBIs over 28 plate appearances in 13 games during the first month of the season. He also hit .245/.269/.491 over his first 72 games (167 plate appearances) in 2015.

He finished the year batting .233/.261/.434 with 11 home runs, 36 RBIs, a .297 wOBA and 89 wRC+. Guerrero was mentioned as a trade candidate prior to the deadline last July.

Potentially muddying the waters is Guerrero’s contract includes a clause that allows him to opt out after the season concludes in which he was traded.

However, it was reported last season Guerrero was at one point willing to waive the clause if financially incentivized and it leads to more playing time. He has $10 million over two years remaining on his deal.