I was thinking that over a whole season (and before it and after to) we post a whole lot about the roller coaster performances of Dodger players...some unmercifully, some no so much. But we all do it. Reading these posts every day gives one a sense of who is given a pass, who is dealt with in no uncertain terms, and who is dismissed as garbage, a word used quite a bit here. So based on my own prejudices, combined with other opinions is a rundown of guys we (I) have been wrong about, right up until last night. * No.1 would have to be Dan Haren, who during his horrible period was excoriated here, overall. He has come back and been a real pro, and the fear we all felt (except maybe Diablo), has all but vanished. Nice job, Dan. You shut my mouth... * No.2 would have to Matt Kemp, who I personally ran out of KKK patience with, but did not ever call for his trade...but many did. Where would we be without him now? * No.3 would be Carl Crawford, who is now an offensive terror, and is making the O engine fire on all cylinders. * No.4 would be Puig, who I thought would be fabulous the whole year, and who right now, is stinking up the place and has become an auto-out. * No.5 is Brian Wilson, who I thought would be spot on all season, who is actually cringeworthy when he is out there and we are ahead by a small margin...can be OK/also can be batting practice * No.6 is League, who lives in the shadows of being OK/suckitude... * No.7 is sort of SVS, who has his HR thing going, but can be an adventure in the OF, and anemic AB...sort of wrong about him, not anything drastic. * No.8 is DBB, and maybe should be no.1, but seperate from players. I thought he would be better, and not be such a dolt and keep making the dullard moves, but he does. But the team is in first right now, and he does deserve some credit I guess, for that. Of course with the team and payroll, where should they be? * No. 9 is Kershaw, who I thought would be great, but not this great. * No.10 would be Beckett, who eventually did pitch very well, and went into the books with his no-no. I just didn't see it lasting for a long time, and he didn't. I also never hought he had anything left and was pretty terrible. * No.11 is Hanley, who I thought would be great like last year, and is still sometimes, but generally a disappointment. Hard to figure Hanley...post season will be huge for him and his future with LA.
Number 1 for me is Uribe. Two years ago I despised him and was so happy once Cruz took his starting spot. But he made me a believer last year, both at the plate and in the field. And this year he keeps on producing. I really was wrong about him and can now say he's among my five favorite Dodgers.
Gordon making the all-star team. My girlfriend has been a big fan of his since 2011, and I continue to hear about how I never thought he was good enough to play for the Dodgers. League's results have definitely been way better than last year. Difference is they're using him in the right spots this year. Sucks to be paying all that money to a groundball ROOGY though. I'll hold my overall judgments on Crawford and Hanley after the postseason. I will say Hanley has been a disappointment, even though I wasn't expecting him to be like last year. Crawford has been as advertised to me. I do enjoy Haren pitching better as of late, but his peripherals kinda suck and I'm not stoked for that option to vest. The Uribear has become a favorite Dodger for me haha. I think all of us were wrong about Wilson. JP Howell having a better season this year than last after signing a big extension? Not used to that happening, so it's been phenomenal. Oh and Justin fuckin Turner! High BABIP, but idgaf, he's awesome.
Gordon, for sure. I thought he would be a pinch runner at best. Glad I'm wrong. Because it usually means they're kicking ass.
I did think dee would be the starter from day one and wasn't too opposed to it. I honestly didn't think he'd have a an all star season but didn't think he was as bad as everyone said he was. The move to 2B has probably been the best thing for him. Kemp I did say to trade not just because he was garbage at the time but because of his babbling idiot agent. Hopefully he gets a GM job so he can stop being kemps agent and filling his head with nonsense. Then he can run his mouth about his team and trade whoever he wants. See how long he lasts there. Kemp seems to be a lot more healthy now and I think we can all see that in his offensive production. Sorry matt....I never really wanted to see you in another uni......promise. Haren has been a pleasant surprise for most of the year other than a few weeks as was Beckett until he got injured. Carmona-hernandez and correia are just hot garbage that I could have done without seeing pitch in a dodger uni. Turner I thought was a good signing at the time and dude has been a god send for this team. Turn down for what?! Hanley is still fragile, AGon is still consistent, puig has hit that invisible wall everyone talks about but he's athletic enough to get over it, Crawford I still prefer in LF and ethier.....thanks for the memories meat. You always were and still are a scum devil to me (sorry IBB). And last but not least Kershaw is a fucking STUD and I wish we could clone him as a righty.
I think we can all say Turner. He has been a Godsend. I thought he'd be mediocre as hell at the plate like a Darwin Barney. Kemp for sure. I had pretty much written him off and he has been great in the 2nd half. And Dee is the 2nd biggest surprise for me behind Turner. I was actually kind of pissed when I heard he won the job over Guerreo in ST, but he has been very slick with the glove and a big reason for many rallies by sparking the offense with his speed. Pleasant surprise
well noted that you had your heart set on his leaning the other way... no worries... some sorry lad will cross your lustful path again soon enough Irish ...
I was wrong about the bench. After losing Ellis, Punto, and Schumaker I was pretty disappointed with their replacements. Turner has been nothing short of amazing. Rojas has flashed some glove. I'll even give Chone Figgins some props for what little he contributed before getting hurt and losing his bench job. Meanwhile those guys I was so upset about losing have had sub par to absolute shit seasons. I know Ellis wasn't a bench player for us last season but I kind of envisioned him as a bench player/backup plan this season before his option was declined. Happy to say the bench hasn't been a problem and is actually better.
I was most wrong about the Beard II, I thought his signing was a coup but I was WAY off. I thought AJ was going to be his usual consistent self. Thought Dre would be at least a representative hitter and not this pathetic mess he's become. I also didn't give enough attention to the Turner signing and he's been a godsend. I also didn't think Juan would ever become the darling of this board after the venom that has been spewed against him before or that he'd become Brooks Robinson defensively!!!! One last thing I thought the league would figure out Hyun Jin after year one but so far so great!!!!