MLB NEWS/RUMORS Thread

Discussion in 'Los Angeles DODGERS' started by irish, Nov 2, 2017.

?

If the Dodgers could acquire one player at the deadline, who would you prefer?

  1. Machado

    43.5%
  2. Front line starter (degrom, thor, et al)

    56.5%
Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.
  1. irish

    irish DSP Staff Member Administrator

    Joined:
    Nov 2011
    Messages:
    53,208
    Likes Received:
    40,790
    Trophy Points:
    278
    The Dodgers have dug themselves too deep a hole to dig out of
    by Dustin Nosler | True Blue LA — 18 May 2018
    [​IMG]
    The Dodgers are done.

    Sure, it’s still May and there’s four months of baseball remaining, but there isn’t much to look forward to with this team. The 2018 iteration of the Los Angeles Dodgers is, for all intents and purposes, is over.

    It’s infinitely frustrating and disappointing that the team is in this position just about six months removed from playing Game 7 of the World Series. And no, the team isn’t in this position because of anything the front office did or didn’t do during the offseason. It has been a combination of bad luck and injuries.

    Early on, the Dodgers were getting unlucky with balls in play – specifically, a guy like Yasiel Puig (.250 BABIP, .289 the previous three years). But of late, they have just been so inconsistent at the plate that they’ve become boring. Yes, they scored seven runs on Thursday against the Marlins (four off their best starter, Caleb Smith), but they’re looking at Max Scherzer and Stephen Strasburg this weekend, meaning they’ll be lucky to score seven runs total against both starters.

    What’s weird is the numbers can’t really explain what has happened with the offense. Last year, the Dodgers had an average exit velocity of 87.6 MPH – fourth-best in baseball. This year, they’re sitting at 88.5 MPH – 12th-best in the league. Launch angle hasn’t been an issue, either. Last year, they averaged 11.6 degrees. This year, it’s 12.7 degrees. Despite that, the Dodgers’ isolated power is just .149 – seventh-worst in baseball. Last year, it was .188, good for fourth-best in MLB.

    They’re hitting the ball harder and higher, but the balls aren’t going over the fence. Through 43 games last season, the Dodgers had a .168 ISO and 49 home runs, compared to 39 this season. Cody Bellinger and Chris Taylor haven’t been the same hitters they were in 2017, and Corey Seager wasn’t exactly lighting the world ablaze before his season-ending elbow injury. The aforementioned Puig has also struggled, but he has started to heat up of late. Oh, and that Justin Turner guy is back. Perhaps the offense gets on track, but it has to play a lot of catch up.
    [​IMG]
    What’s more concerning is the pitching. The bullpen has been an outright disaster. Even Kenley Jansen wasn’t immune to struggles. Tony Cingrani’s shoulder started barking after he got off to a quick start, and Ross Stripling had to be thrown into the rotation.

    Speaking of the rotation, Clayton Kershaw is hurt (again), and despite optimism surrounding his recovery, we’ve probably seen the best of him. That’s fine, but I also don’t think the Dodgers can rely much on him for the remainder of the season. Now, if he comes back throwing 92-94, then I’ll gladly eat some crow. Hyun-jin Ryu was pitching great before he got hurt. Kenta Maeda has been inconsistent, while Rich Hill has been one of the worst pitchers in baseball in his five starts. Walker Buehler has been a pleasant surprise but having him shoulder so much of the load in his second full professional season is, a) a lot to ask of him and b) tempting fate.

    The Dodgers have been in worse spots in the division in recent years. In 2013, they were behind the Giants by as many as 9½ games in June. They went on an historic 42-8 stretch to overtake ‘Frisco and win the division going away. They bested the 42-8 stretch last season en route to a 104-win season — again, after a slow start.

    But those two seasons had something this one probably won’t — reinforcements. In 2013, the Dodgers had Puig’s debut and getting Hanley Ramirez back from injury, both of whom electrified the Dodgers’ offense. Seriously, the hitting display Ramirez put on that season was incredible. Last season, the Dodgers promoted Bellinger at the end of April, and his play helped the Dodgers get on track.

    The 2018 Dodgers don’t have any players like that coming. Buehler is already here, and Alex Verdugo is on the farm, but he isn’t the impact player Bellinger was last season. And the Dodgers have the added difficulty of replacing Seager’s production.
    [​IMG]
    Manny Machado would be nice, but he doesn’t make any sense for the Dodgers at this moment. For them to go after Machado, they’d have to be within striking distance of the division. They’re only eight games behind the Diamondbacks, who have suddenly come back to earth a bit (probably because they weren’t playing the Dodgers), but that’s a quality team in Arizona, and for the Dodgers to get to 90 wins, they’d need to play .613 ball. Not an impossible task, but it might be for this squad.

    The Dodgers haven’t shown many signs of life. They’ve played mostly NL West opponents in the season’s first six weeks, and they’ve struggled (12-16).

    The depth that once was a calling card for the Dodgers has been eroded a bit, especially in the pitching department. Brandon McCarthy, Scott Kazmir and Trevor Oaks were all traded, leaving the starting pitching depth with guys like Stripling, Brock Stewart and the since-traded Wilmer Font. McCarthy isn’t having a great 2018, Kazmir isn’t even rostered and Oaks has thrown just five innings in the majors this season. They didn’t trade these guys for nothing, so it’s hard to be too upset at the Dodgers trading that depth away. The problem is, they didn’t do a great job replacing it. Zach Neal might have been one of the replacements, but he was traded to the Reds (and he wasn’t great depth anyway). Manny Banuelos, former acclaimed Yankee prospect, is one or two injuries from getting on the 40-man roster. The luxury tax restrictions prevented the Dodgers from adding the depth that they traded away. It’s their own fault, and no one is going to shed a tear for one of baseball’s richest teams.

    Without any significant reinforcements coming from the farm or from outside the organization, the Dodgers are going to have to rely on the talent they have on the roster. There are still some quality players, but with the way some of them have performed this season, well, I wouldn’t hold my breath.

    Guys like Alex Wood and Yasmani Grandal have been good, but there is regression coming for them. I don’t say this to be negative, I say it because it’s a fact. Wood faltered a bit in the second half last season (1.76 ERA in the first half, 3.89 in the second), while Grandal had a .737 OPS after the break and only started two of the 15 Dodger postseason games.

    The fact is, the Dodgers are closer to being sellers than playoff contenders. I’m not confident this bunch can turn things around. Missing your best all-around player and having suspect pitching depth doesn’t usually translate to success. The Dodgers have only so many assets they can use to acquire upgrades but doing that doesn’t even make sense unless they start playing better.

    It’s hard to believe this is nearly the same team that had everyone on the brink of euphoria. Instead, we’re on the brink of madness, and while things may slightly get better, they may not improve enough for it to matter.
     
  2. VRP

    VRP DSP Legend

    Joined:
    Nov 2011
    Messages:
    14,824
    Likes Received:
    9,005
    Trophy Points:
    198
    I saw this this morning and don’t agree. But we’ll see. It’s pretty much right at the tipping point so another couple of losses in a row and we’re probably done
     
  3. irish

    irish DSP Staff Member Administrator

    Joined:
    Nov 2011
    Messages:
    53,208
    Likes Received:
    40,790
    Trophy Points:
    278
    agreed
    but it's at the point where they can't dismiss it and say "it's still early"
    i could see the hitters getting hot and the starters having better outings...
    but i just don't see the bullpen (as currently constructed) recovering...
     
  4. THINKBLUE

    THINKBLUE DSP Gigolo

    Joined:
    Nov 2011
    Messages:
    41,872
    Likes Received:
    24,570
    Trophy Points:
    228
    The only sentiment I 100% agree on in the article is that there's a certain level we have to reach before even thinking about someone like Machado.
    If we don't get damn close to .500 by the first week of June with some key guys coming back from injury as well, you gotta stand pat or sell. Buying would be a waste.
     
    TheKnockdown, irish and VRP like this.
  5. THINKBLUE

    THINKBLUE DSP Gigolo

    Joined:
    Nov 2011
    Messages:
    41,872
    Likes Received:
    24,570
    Trophy Points:
    228
    Edit: wrong thread idiot.
     
    Doughty8, LAdiablo and irish like this.
  6. fsudog21

    fsudog21 DSP Legend

    Joined:
    Apr 2016
    Messages:
    13,371
    Likes Received:
    14,803
    Trophy Points:
    198
    Chicken or the egg thing.

    If the starters can't go deeper, the bullpen weakness is exposed all the more.
     
    irish likes this.
  7. fsudog21

    fsudog21 DSP Legend

    Joined:
    Apr 2016
    Messages:
    13,371
    Likes Received:
    14,803
    Trophy Points:
    198
    I couldn't get past the second paragraph where he absolves the FO of any blame.
     
    Finski and irish like this.
  8. THINKBLUE

    THINKBLUE DSP Gigolo

    Joined:
    Nov 2011
    Messages:
    41,872
    Likes Received:
    24,570
    Trophy Points:
    228
    Yeah, that was lame.

    I'm Pro-Nerd all the way. But they're responsible for plenty of this mess.
     
    Finski and irish like this.
  9. VRP

    VRP DSP Legend

    Joined:
    Nov 2011
    Messages:
    14,824
    Likes Received:
    9,005
    Trophy Points:
    198
    Yeah we need to start winning to think about that.

    But for example, Fangraphs still has us winning the division by a few percent over AZ. We’re still hanging around. Gotta win like 7 of 10 though starting today
     
    irish and THINKBLUE like this.
  10. irish

    irish DSP Staff Member Administrator

    Joined:
    Nov 2011
    Messages:
    53,208
    Likes Received:
    40,790
    Trophy Points:
    278
    been saying this myself (wow plagiarist)
    a guy like machado would help the offense
    but not make up for starters/pen ineptness
     
    THINKBLUE likes this.
  11. THINKBLUE

    THINKBLUE DSP Gigolo

    Joined:
    Nov 2011
    Messages:
    41,872
    Likes Received:
    24,570
    Trophy Points:
    228
    Ready for any sort of hope.
    May not be a 104 win team but we can sneak into the playoffs.

    Fringe guys like Taylor and Forsythe have to be better.
    Stars, especially Bellinger, have to be better. The dude is OPSing under .800. Kenley too.
    Turner needs to stay healthy.
    Kershaw, Bhueler, Urias, and other guys already in the org need to show health and consistency.

    Then you can talk about adding a bat to replace Seager and addressing the bullpen.

    The plan from the FO was clearly to get under the tax, stick around until July and see what happens. It might work, it might not. There's no margin for error in their plan.
     
  12. Fall Winslow

    Fall Winslow McRib

    Joined:
    Sep 2015
    Messages:
    25,538
    Likes Received:
    9,526
    Trophy Points:
    228


    Fair to mention Kasten's words from the outset, and he was right. Dodgers shouldn't have to have a 250M payroll for years to come just to win. Who else is doing that? These clubs with 1/3 the payroll and 1/2 the payroll that LAD has are out there winning big without feeding the little guys lux tax/comp balance $. But I still don't blame them for going big with the payroll slashing this season. Did they see the market inactivity coming this past offseason? Don't know. But I know this team was still projected to win 95+ games regardless and also the WS favorites coming into the season again, and probably because it was one of the worst offseasons for all of MLB in terms of FA activity. It was a gamble, but seemingly a measured gamble with OK timing, IMO. It's a weird situation in general because you hardly ever see rebuilding teams winning 5 division crowns in a row and being 1 game away from a WS title.

    As far as the see-saw and the problem there, paying big money for vets that had worn out their welcome with other clubs was at the forefront of that, but we know why that happened. To make the team competitive quickly. But I don't see what happened at the outset of GG's run being in the same stratosphere as the opportunity to sign one of these 25-26 year old phenoms that have yet to reach their peak. Just a vastly different sort of buy at a different point in the rebuild. Going all out for Adrian, Hanley, Crawford, etc. isn't the same as putting money on the table for Manny or Bryce. This next FA period is going to be one we've never seen before, Manny and Bryce being at a point in their career where they aren't high risks. The high risk buy, to me, the one that goes in the same category as adding Adrian/Hanley/etc., would be to re-sign Kershaw to some big contract.

    Bellinger and Seager, I'm not worried about. Well, Seager's elbow does worry me. But I'm not worried about them being boneheads or anything like that. They've had so much early success that we expect them to be perfect studs, but they're still kids. If Bellinger and Seager are still making the same mistakes a couple years from now, then I'll be worried. The guys like Joc and Puig, who are making the same mistakes they made at 21-22, now at 26..yeah, fuck that. Bellinger and Seager must go the opposite path. I don't know if they'll ever be leaders though. LAD may have to strike out on the FA to find those leaders. I know I love the way Machado competes and Showalter always talks about his intensity and will to win. Maybe put him at SS and hand the leadership mantle to him for a spell? I don't know. I just know we've seen the episode too many times to not know where Kershaw/Kenley fall short. And Doc is soft as can be too. I'm with you 110% on Utley, could be part of the reason they keep finding themselves bringing him back. He seems like the type that'll just walk right into a job, like Boone with NYY, like so many others in this area that get hired quickly w/o experience. But then there's also Raul Ibanez still within LAD's FO and he's had his share of managerial looks and interviews, so I imagine LAD would give him consideration as well. Maybe even call on G.Maddux too?
     
  13. ColoradoKidWitGame

    ColoradoKidWitGame DSP Legend Administrator

    Joined:
    Jul 2013
    Messages:
    11,710
    Likes Received:
    10,087
    Trophy Points:
    198
    Rich Hill is gonna be out for a long time. Sounds like the blister tore totally open and is the worst the team has seen since he arrived.
     
  14. rube

    rube DSP Legend Staff Member Administrator

    Joined:
    Nov 2011
    Messages:
    15,460
    Likes Received:
    8,213
    Trophy Points:
    198
    Signing Machado this offseason will be huge.
    The Dodgers have around 5 good pitching prospects that will challenge next seasons rotation.
    Signing a big time reliever would be huge.
    Developing Edwin Rios to see if he really can be that big power hitting 1B.
    There are 5 good OF prospects that can be ready to challenge for a spot within the year.
    Ruiz is coming hard for Grandals spot.
    Buehler is the new ace.
     
  15. fsudog21

    fsudog21 DSP Legend

    Joined:
    Apr 2016
    Messages:
    13,371
    Likes Received:
    14,803
    Trophy Points:
    198
    Wash, rinse, repeat.
     
    irish, THINKBLUE and Bluezoo like this.
  16. TheKnockdown

    TheKnockdown DSP Legend

    Joined:
    Jul 2013
    Messages:
    2,793
    Likes Received:
    2,216
    Trophy Points:
    153
    Howie Kendrick is out for the year. Ruptured achilles. Wouldn't wish that injury on anyone.
     
    irish and Bluezoo like this.
  17. LAdiablo

    LAdiablo descarado

    Joined:
    Nov 2011
    Messages:
    29,950
    Likes Received:
    25,083
    Trophy Points:
    1,253
    watched that play and his face as he was carted off
    just a total pro and i think that might have been the last we see of him on the field
    he deserved better than that
    what a cruel ending
     
  18. Bluezoo

    Bluezoo Among the Pantheon

    Joined:
    Nov 2011
    Messages:
    27,443
    Likes Received:
    21,639
    Trophy Points:
    228
    Dredging up Kasten's words is all well and good, especially factoring in the teams that have been champions of late. Excluding the Cubs.
    But you have to have the people manipulating this moneyball/ SABR banquet that in theory is out there, that are clever, have astute timing, and know who to get, and when in their career paths to get them. Not a walking wounded starting rotation costing millions, btw. The FO is shaky on when...pretty bad, in fact.
    They've gotten a few nice players, but overall the mistakes far outweigh the assets, imo.
    Cold hard results seperate the men from the boys, and to date, unless you change the prize level, we got the boys...no matter how many lick their taints and crow elite status.
    Point being, you can't dismiss Kasten's logic. But it is only valid if the right people are constructing your "less expensive win it all" team.
    Then of course, to laugh in the face of it all, are the NY Yankees. Who have always been the richest, spent the most, and been the best forever, historically.
    And still might be.
     
  19. irish

    irish DSP Staff Member Administrator

    Joined:
    Nov 2011
    Messages:
    53,208
    Likes Received:
    40,790
    Trophy Points:
    278
    agreed
    played the game the right way, and always seemed to be having fun doing it
    a pro's pro
     
    LAdiablo and TheKnockdown like this.
  20. THINKBLUE

    THINKBLUE DSP Gigolo

    Joined:
    Nov 2011
    Messages:
    41,872
    Likes Received:
    24,570
    Trophy Points:
    228
    He also hit the ground ball that lead to the Utley slide. Forever a Dodger Legend
     
    LAdiablo, TheKnockdown and irish like this.
Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.

Share This Page