GAME THREAD

Discussion in 'Los Angeles DODGERS' started by ColoradoKidWitGame, Feb 25, 2017.

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  1. ColoradoKidWitGame

    ColoradoKidWitGame DSP Legend Administrator

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    Ethier is off to a really solid start(which he has always been good at) and is now 4-9 with 6(SIX!!!) walks. Nice to see him not skipping a beat. He could be valuable in the #2 hole against RHP.
     
    ColoradoKidWitGame, Mar 6, 2017
    #141
  2. ColoradoKidWitGame

    ColoradoKidWitGame DSP Legend Administrator

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    Rockies announcers saying the Dodgers hitters appear to be trying to go oppo and on cue Joc bombs one out to left.
     
    ColoradoKidWitGame, Mar 6, 2017
    #142
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  3. irish

    irish DSP Staff Member Administrator

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    imo we could do worse than an dre/trayce platoon in left
    saw this article last night...

    Andre Ethier: Dodgers Regular Left Fielder, Comeback Player Candidate
    by Howard Cole | Forbes — 14 hours ago

    All systems go. Andre Ethier is back. He's going to be the Dodgers' regular left fielder in 2017.

    He's not platooning with Yasiel Puig in right, as some have suggested, and he's not about to be beaten out of a job by Andrew Toles. Ethier is the left fielder. Period.

    You'll excuse the use of the term "regular" to describe the player's role, because as a left-hand hitter in a sport with some two right-hand pitchers for every southpaw, it's mathematically closer to the truth and easier to say than "left fielder in a platoon with Franklin Guttierez, Scott Van Slyke, Kiké Hernandez or some combination of the above."

    While an expectation of Ethier matching his career .303/.382/.506/.888 mark versus RHP as a 35-year-old (on April 10) may seem like a stretch, it's more doable than you might think. He hit .306/.383/.517/.900 against righties in 2015, and though he's two years old in actual age, it's not like he put any mileage on his body last season. He started twice in left in 2016, completed one game out there, and stepped to the plate all of 26 times (plus five more in the postseason).

    Spring Training stats mean little, of course, but it's better to start a season after most of a year off hitting .375/.667/.750/1.417, with six walks and a homer than not.

    Plenty scoffed when I predicted that Ethier would go .285/.350/.450/.800, with 20 and 75 a couple of weeks ago, but I think that's a reasonable goal for Dodgers' longest tenured player. Entering his 12th and likely final season in Los Angeles, Ethier's is motivated by his upcoming free agency, naturally, but it's more than just that. The bounce in his step is apparent to anyone watching, and he, like the rest of Dave Roberts' men, is focused on a pennant. Nothing less will do.

    Perhaps he joins his friend Dustin Pedroia in Boston next year, as has long been talked about. Maybe he becomes a part-time outfielder and designated hitter. Perhaps he goes home to Arizona to play out his career. Or maybe he goes ape-wire one more time vs. right-handers, becomes Captain Clutch with some dramatic walkoffs again, and finds his way back to Chavez Ravine in 2018, where he gets to place a particular piece of jewelry in the safe by his locker every day when he shows up to work.

    I don't know about you, but I plan to appreciate the Dodgers left fielder as he goes through his paces in 2017. I'll keep in mind that I may be watching his L.A. swan song throughout, and I'm confident you will too.

    I'll just add one more prediction. Ethier wins the 2017 National League Comeback Player of the Year.

    And remember, glove conquers all.

    ​
     
    irish, Mar 6, 2017
    #143
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  4. ColoradoKidWitGame

    ColoradoKidWitGame DSP Legend Administrator

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    Jesus.... Kazmir is out with an injury after 14 pitches. His mechanics have been out of whack and the coaching staff has been working extensively fixing that. Welp, next man up
     
    Last edited: Mar 6, 2017
    ColoradoKidWitGame, Mar 6, 2017
    #144
  5. BlueMouse

    BlueMouse 2020 World Champions

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    I forget about Ethier most of the time, and when I think about him I'm skeptical. But he OPS'd .900 vs RHP in 2015. I keep thinking of Puig as a WC this season, but Ethier might be just as big of a WC? Hell, maybe that should be our RF platoon.

    Ethier has had some big Spring Trainings plus he used to beast with Manny protecting him in the lineup - with an improved lineup, the deck might be stacked for Ethier to have a big season.
     
    BlueMouse, Mar 6, 2017
    #145
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  6. ColoradoKidWitGame

    ColoradoKidWitGame DSP Legend Administrator

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    Jesus, Welp so much for me being excited about Cash this morning. He has given up what should have been back to back to back HR's now. Reynolds ball was called a triple, but everyone seems to agree it was out.
     
    ColoradoKidWitGame, Mar 6, 2017
    #146
  7. ColoradoKidWitGame

    ColoradoKidWitGame DSP Legend Administrator

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    I think Ethier is a full time LF'er at this point as his OF D was deteriorating steadily BEFORE he broke his leg. Toles may also start the year in AAA if he doesn't earn a starting spot right off the bat, which would be best for him. I think they are going to give Puig the opportunity to be the everyday RF'er due to his D and the fact that even if he isn't hitting up to his elite capabilities, he's still an above average all around player.
     
    ColoradoKidWitGame, Mar 6, 2017
    #147
  8. ColoradoKidWitGame

    ColoradoKidWitGame DSP Legend Administrator

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    I was worried about this when I first read that he was dealing with the issue into January. He only really got a couple weeks in where he finally started to target the pain and correct it, then the mechanics being a mess is always a scary situation for a pitcher.
     
    ColoradoKidWitGame, Mar 6, 2017
    #148
  9. ColoradoKidWitGame

    ColoradoKidWitGame DSP Legend Administrator

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    Great... now Ethier is out of the game after one AB. No word yet why.
     
    ColoradoKidWitGame, Mar 6, 2017
    #149
  10. ColoradoKidWitGame

    ColoradoKidWitGame DSP Legend Administrator

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    Apparently the wind is blowing pretty steadily out to center which is causing the ball to really carry today.
     
    ColoradoKidWitGame, Mar 6, 2017
    #150
  11. ColoradoKidWitGame

    ColoradoKidWitGame DSP Legend Administrator

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    Umm.... now Ramos has asked to come out of the game. Appears to be some sort of lower back tightness. This is fun....
     
    ColoradoKidWitGame, Mar 6, 2017
    #151
  12. irish

    irish DSP Staff Member Administrator

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    this is all too familiar :smh:
     
    irish, Mar 6, 2017
    #152
  13. ColoradoKidWitGame

    ColoradoKidWitGame DSP Legend Administrator

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    Chris Hatcher has continued to pitch his way to a DFA this spring. Rockies announcers saying his pitches have no life to them and everything is flat. Still bringing it in the mid-90's, but nothing to the pitches beyond that.
     
    Last edited: Mar 6, 2017
    ColoradoKidWitGame, Mar 6, 2017
    #153
  14. dodgers

    dodgers DSP Legend

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    i'm rooting for ethier but howard cole is an idiot
     
    dodgers, Mar 6, 2017
    #154
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  15. ColoradoKidWitGame

    ColoradoKidWitGame DSP Legend Administrator

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    HAHA, I definitely thought that second part, but didn't say it.
     
    ColoradoKidWitGame, Mar 6, 2017
    #155
  16. irish

    irish DSP Staff Member Administrator

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    agree on both counts
     
    irish, Mar 6, 2017
    #156
  17. rube

    rube DSP Legend Staff Member Administrator

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    What about Toles?
    What happened to Toles before Bros?
     
    rube, Mar 6, 2017
    #157
  18. dodgers

    dodgers DSP Legend

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    I think his career trajectory is exceptional utility rather than 550 ab guy
     
    dodgers, Mar 6, 2017
    #158
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  19. LAdiablo

    LAdiablo descarado

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    CB w the stab and then the sharp single vs. the lefty nice
     
    LAdiablo, Mar 6, 2017
    #159
  20. ColoradoKidWitGame

    ColoradoKidWitGame DSP Legend Administrator

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    Personally feel that at this point, the Dodgers have too many viable options and instead of him being a platoon guy, they may elect to have him start the year in AAA and let him get AB's everyday. They changed his stance so that he may have better results against LHP, so that may be behind a decision.
     
    ColoradoKidWitGame, Mar 6, 2017
    #160
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