Dodgers counting on healthy Crawford

Discussion in 'Los Angeles DODGERS' started by irish, Jan 12, 2013.

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  1. irish

    irish DSP Staff Member Administrator

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    Dodgers counting on healthy Crawford in 2013
    Left fielder, rehabbing from elbow surgery, key part of club's title hopes
    By Ken Gurnick / MLB.com | 01/11/13 3:56 PM ET

    [​IMG]
    Carl Crawford expresses excitement in joining the Dodgers and talks about getting a second chance to prove his worth on the field

    LOS ANGELES -- Carl Crawford will be the Dodgers' starting left fielder in 2013. That's their story and they're sticking to it.

    Of course, the Dodgers really aren't sure. It's hard to be sure about a player coming off Tommy John elbow reconstruction surgery, not to mention one that is owed more than $100 million over the next five seasons. That's what the Dodgers were willing to take off the books of the Boston Red Sox for Crawford in last year's blockbuster trade that also brought Adrian Gonzalez, Josh Beckett and Nick Punto to Los Angeles for James Loney, Rubby De La Rosa, Allen Webster, Jerry Sands and Ivan DeJesus Jr.

    That's a trade with a lot of moving parts, although the Crawford component is likely the riskiest personnel move the franchise has made since trading away Pedro Martinez, if not the riskiest since they left Roberto Clemente unprotected in the 1954 Rule 5 Draft.

    Crawford, 31, had his operation one day before the Dodgers acquired him, an unprecedented gamble considering the price tag for known damaged goods. His recovery and rehab is something of a mystery, as he has remained in his native Houston rather than working out under the supervision of club medics in Arizona, as Matt Kemp is doing while rehabbing from his shoulder operation. Of course, Kemp has a home in Arizona and Crawford does not.

    Crawford did fly to Los Angeles for an introductory press conference Oct. 26 and has been in touch regularly with the club's medical department. Trainer Sue Falsone is scheduled to fly to Houston next week to meet with Crawford.

    Manager Don Mattingly, traveling from his Indiana home to Camelback Ranch in Glendale, Ariz., for this week's Development Camp for prospects, detoured through Houston to talk to Crawford, who waived a no-trade clause to get out of Boston for a fresh start in California.

    "I felt like he's really excited and can't wait to get going and get back on the field," said Mattingly. "It's been like two years that he's really been healthy. He's ready to put the whole Boston thing behind him. He feels like just moving forward and just playing."

    That would be fine with the Dodgers, as long as he's physically capable. But that's the unknown. Crawford has only begun baseball activities in the past week.

    "He sounds pretty confident," said Mattingly. "He's been working really hard, but he's had to go slow. In the next 30 days, as he starts doing more baseball stuff, he'll get a better feel for what he can do. He's still in rehab mode. I'm sure he's going to be a little behind [in] throwing."

    The Dodgers believe they can live with that, especially from a left fielder. What they need from Crawford is the offense he showed with Tampa Bay while making four All-Star Game appearances, winning a Silver Slugger Award and four stolen base titles. Mattingly said Crawford figures to bat first or second, setting the table for Kemp, Gonzalez, Hanley Ramirez and Andre Ethier.

    The combination of speed, power and defense helped turn Crawford into one of the most sought-after free agents after the 2010 season. He landed a seven-year, $142 million contract from the Red Sox, but two seasons in Boston were so disappointing that he apologized to fans for his play.

    In addition to the elbow, Crawford has dealt with chronic left wrist issues that required surgery last January to debride cartilage, a common surgery for arthritic patients.

    "It gets inflamed from time to time and is just something to deal with," he said in October. "I'm hoping if the elbow gets strong, it will take the pressure off the wrist. The elbow has bothered me for over a year. I definitely feel once I'm done with the rehab, I'll be back to my old self."

    In Boston, the comparisons weren't so kind. The fans were tough on Crawford, and he didn't blame them.

    "I hate to make excuses," he said. "My thing is, point blank, if you don't play well, everything goes bad for you. I didn't play well, didn't play up to expectations. You sign for $140 million and don't play well, that's a recipe for disaster. That's what happened. Hopefully, I'll come to L.A. with a clean slate."

    ___
     
    irish, Jan 12, 2013
    #1
  2. IBleedBlue15

    IBleedBlue15 DSP Stud

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    Carl better be fucking good... or I'll be pissed that we didn't dump his ass for Hamilton.
     
    IBleedBlue15, Jan 12, 2013
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  3. THINKBLUE

    THINKBLUE DSP Gigolo

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    I'm just stoked for the season all together. Haven't been this stoked since going into the 2009 season with Frank's version of a WS contender (Furcal/Hudson/Ramirez/Ethier/Kemp/Blake/Loney/Martin

    There isn't anything like baseball. The Dodger uniforms are whiter and crisper than any other uniform with the sharp blue font and red number. The outdoors, every day...seriously cannot wait.
     
    THINKBLUE, Jan 12, 2013
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  4. irish

    irish DSP Staff Member Administrator

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    great post
     
    irish, Jan 12, 2013
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  5. 4everblue

    4everblue DSP Regular

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    That was a pretty fucking good team, based on what Loney and Martin were expected to produce. Sure it looks like a AA team compared to the current team, but I liked 2009.

    I think Crawford will be good. He was not a one year hit in TB, he had multiple solid seasons. If he can get back to the high OBP, this lineup will be impossible to handle.

    Something else that is being overlooked by many is the work that Big Mac does. He was credited with the success of many of the Cards hitters, so he can turn Gonzo, Hanley and CC is what we expect them to be. Hell, he might even teach Ethier how to hit lefties!
     
    4everblue, Jan 12, 2013
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  6. Dodgers99

    Dodgers99 DSP Legend

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    Lets not get crazy now.
     
    Dodgers99, Jan 12, 2013
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  7. LAFord

    LAFord DSP Legend

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    Wow, that actually was a pretty damn good lineup. Let's compare to our current lineup as I project DBB to make it.
    Are we really better now? Injuries hurt that team, but I also see inuries hurting the current lineup.

    Furcal <- M.Ellis..............Injuries aside, a hot Furcal made us winners everytime. A hot ellis is cool, but he's not the impact leadoff bat.
    Hudson <-> Crawford.....I liked Hudson until Torre moved him to bat 3rd. He was a solid #2 and CC is a huge question mark.
    M.Ramirez <-> Kemp.....Both were godlike in their primes as Dodgers...hopefully Kemp is still there.
    Ethier -> Gonzales...........I give a VERY slight advantage to the soon to resurge AGon against a badass clutch hitting Ethier of old.
    Kemp <- H.Ramirez........Tough call because Kemp was still rising, but I have little faith in a current HanRam.
    Blake -> Ethier.................Easy one(And the only easy win for 2013). I also predict a great year from Andre.
    Loney <- Cruz..................Loney vs. Cruz is a tough one, but Loney was probably better then than I think Cruz will be now.
    Martin <- AJEllis.............Tough one here for me, but Martin was still good and seemed to be a better defensive catcher IIRC. I could go tie.

    My Score:
    2009=4
    2013=2
    OK, why does this team not look so good to me when next to 2009? Even with a tie at C, I'd still have 3-2.
     
    LAFord, Jan 12, 2013
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  8. southerndodgerfan

    southerndodgerfan Dodgers Enthusiast

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    Pretty accurate. However, this year we have a group of hitters who can play off each other and each have leadership abilities. Ethier has settled down and is not as volatile. Kemp is more mature. Cruz is just happy to have a job. Ellis is the same way. Crawford has something to prove. Ellis is the ultimate professional. If everyone can live up to their potential, we will go far. Our issue, this year, will be injuries. AGon is one year removed. Kemp is just coming back. Crawford is just coming back. Bills is a question mark. We do not know what is going on with Kershaw's hip. Jansen has heart issues.
     
    southerndodgerfan, Jan 13, 2013
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  9. F YOUK

    F YOUK DSP Regular

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    This comparison reminds of a line from major league.

    Lou Brown...I thought you said we didn't have any high priced talent on this team
    Charlie Donovan....I forgot about dorn because he's only high priced
     
    F YOUK, Jan 13, 2013
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  10. 4everblue

    4everblue DSP Regular

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    Says a redsox fan... I could bet you $100 right now that the Dodgers will have a better record than Boston and would even give you a +5 margin.

    And the biggest edge of this team vs that 2009 team is the rotation, not the lineup.
     
    4everblue, Jan 13, 2013
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  11. IBleedBlue15

    IBleedBlue15 DSP Stud

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    He's a Yankee fan...
     
    IBleedBlue15, Jan 13, 2013
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  12. THINKBLUE

    THINKBLUE DSP Gigolo

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    Crawford looks real fat in that pic though. He needs to get in shape and be an impact for us. Because taking him on blocked/blocks a lot of options for us.
     
    THINKBLUE, Jan 13, 2013
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  13. 4everblue

    4everblue DSP Regular

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    Really? Then his comment has a lot less value... Not because they are suddenly money concern make the last 15 years go away... And they still have Arod and Texeira under contract...

    Who was it the that was saying the other day that the Redsox were going to surprise a lot of people?
     
    4everblue, Jan 13, 2013
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  14. LAdiablo

    LAdiablo descarado

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    bloated in fact. almost like unhealthy lifestyle bloated. :beer:
     
    LAdiablo, Jan 13, 2013
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  15. IBleedBlue15

    IBleedBlue15 DSP Stud

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    Some stupid Red Sox fan.

    The only thing that has surprised me about the Red Sox is that they were that stupid to sign Victorino to that ridiculous contract. Almost as surprising as the people who are letting him commit to team USA. That's a joke.
     
    IBleedBlue15, Jan 13, 2013
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  16. F YOUK

    F YOUK DSP Regular

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    Actually, being a yanks fan since the mid 80's, it should lend a little credibility to my ability to identify gross overpayment and underachievement when I see it. Fact is, for as bad as arod and teix's contracts are, I wouldn't trade them for anyone the Guggenheims have acquired.
     
    F YOUK, Jan 14, 2013
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  17. THINKBLUE

    THINKBLUE DSP Gigolo

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    They threw together a pretty nice team in 8 months. Don't really care.
     
    THINKBLUE, Jan 14, 2013
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  18. 4everblue

    4everblue DSP Regular

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    I know its not rhe best team ever, but givenn how thin the FA market was expected to be, its the best team they could put together without drying out the farm system
     
    4everblue, Jan 14, 2013
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  19. southerndodgerfan

    southerndodgerfan Dodgers Enthusiast

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    I was going to stay out of this but yeah... The first statement I can agree with. Yankee fans should be an expert at such. However, the second statement I have to call bullshit on. As an extra, let me remind you that we did acquire HanRam for the following contract:

    When you look at the ages and value of this contract (compared to the current contract trends), he is a steal. If Shane Victorino is getting 15 a year on the open market, can you imagine what Hanley would have cost--baggage and all?


    2013 29 Los Angeles Dodgers $15,500,000
    2014 30 Los Angeles Dodgers $16,000,000
    ​

    Below are the contracts of Crawford and Texiera:

    Crawford's contract goes from ages 31-35 and he is owed 102.5million. Texiera's contract is from ages 33-36 and he is owed 90million. Texiera is the better hitter--by far. He has less injuries and even in decline should put of decent numbers for the remainder of his contract. Crawford is a mystery. Could he return to form, possibly. More than likely, he will produce decent numbers slightly less than those of his TB days.


    2013 31 Los Angeles Dodgers $20,000,000
    2014 32 Los Angeles Dodgers $20,250,000
    2015 33 Los Angeles Dodgers $20,500,000
    2016 34 Los Angeles Dodgers $20,750,000
    2017 35 Los Angeles Dodgers $21,000,000     ​

    2013 33 New York Yankees $22,500,000
    2014 34 New York Yankees $22,500,000
    2015 35 New York Yankees $22,500,000
    2016 36 New York Yankees $22,500,000     ​

    Here are Arod and AGon's contract details for the remainder of their contracts:

    Look at the ages. AGon's contract is from 31-38. He makes 115.8million over the length when Boston's money is taken away. That is for six years. Arod's contract goes from ages 37-41. His is for 114million not counting bonuses. So, who got the better deal? Should we go with defense? Should be we look into injuries of the last five years?



    2013 31 Los Angeles Dodgers $21,000,000 $3.9M paid by Boston Red Sox
    2014 32 Los Angeles Dodgers $21,000,000 $3.9M paid by Boston Red Sox
    2015 33 Los Angeles Dodgers $21,000,000 $3.9M paid by Boston Red Sox
    2016 34 Los Angeles Dodgers $21,000,000
    2017 35 Los Angeles Dodgers $21,500,000
    2018 36 Los Angeles Dodgers $21,500,000     ​

    2013 37 New York Yankees $28,000,000 $30m in marketing bonuses for HR milestones from 660 HR to 763HR
    2014 38 New York Yankees $25,000,000 $30m in marketing bonuses for HR milestones from 660 HR to 763HR
    2015 39 New York Yankees $21,000,000 $30m in marketing bonuses for HR milestones from 660 HR to 763HR
    2016 40 New York Yankees $20,000,000 $30m in marketing bonuses for HR milestones from 660 HR to 763HR
    2017 41 New York Yankees $20,000,000 $30m in marketing bonuses for HR milestones from 660 HR to 763HR    ​
     
    southerndodgerfan, Jan 14, 2013
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  20. bestlakersfan

    bestlakersfan DSP Legend

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    Crawford has one of, if not the worst contracts in baseball, but that is really the only one I don't like. I wasn't a fan and ripped the RedSox for the contract and still beleive it's terrible now. However, the fact that we have AGon adds significant improvement to the contract and if Beckett returns to form or pitches the way he did last year, it'll be great. Not to mention, if Crawford is healthy and can play the way he did in TB, then it'd be great.
     
    bestlakersfan, Jan 14, 2013
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