The Youkilis/Hamilton Debates Thread

We are both talking about Youkalis? He's gonna wanna start and I don't want him at all.

 

Youk's face and being a pretty shitty baseball player nowadays annoy me. I don't really want him. Lets get some young meat into the mix, this ain't the over 40 social league.

Lets look at our system, I heard we had two ace prospects called Andy LaRoche and Blake DeWitt a couple of years ago. I'm sure one of them could solidify third base. Surely.

 

Ethier is not a platoon player, def not for $85M. If we hare looking at Hunter, Ethier is on his way out.

 

label this post contradiction

 

This was overlooked but promising.

Here's the latest from Bob Nightengale of USA Today...

The Dodgers are "aggressively pursuing" Torii Hunter according to a team executive. GM Ned Colletti wouldn't confirm the team's interest, but he did say that he did not have any trade talks about Andre Ethier during the GM Meetings this week.
The Dodgers will have meetings early next week to formulate a plan that involves signing Hunter and acquiring a frontline starter. They've already spoken to representatives for Zack Greinke and Anibal Sanchez, but are out on Ryan Dempster

Read more at http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/#xHYsFdBZzdWtRolh.99

 

What most people are missing with the intimations toward Hunter is a few things. First, and it will be unpopular, is we have 3 outfielders who could be traded. That would include Crawford, Ethier, and Kemp. Of these contracts, the only one above market value is Crawford. Ethier and Kemp had pretty team-friendly deals when compared to the FA market. I am not saying that we are trading Kemp but that is still a possibility. He is probably our best hitter but has been hurt more in the last two years than any other OFer. He would fetch a premier young pitcher and probably another young hitter. Crawford is the anomaly in that his contract is huge and he has been hurt. I am do not think a team outside the Dodgers is willing to take the chance. Ethier has been discussed to ad nauseum.

Another thing: Everyone needs a spell. Crawford and Ethier need spelling for lefties. Crawford is coming back from TJ and may not be ready. Kemp is coming back from shoulder surgery and may not be ready. Kemp has leg issues and I am not sure about them. Crawford can play all three and be a guy who can take over in late innings. Also, we have a ton more interleague games next year. We will need a designated hitter who is not some bench player who may or may not get a hit. We have the cash. He and Kemp are close. He loves LA. He has stated that he would love to come here. The question is whether he will consider a minor role.

 

I say no to Youk. We should wait and see how Cruuz looks in his sophomore season. If Cruuz does, in fact, turn into a utility guy before our very eyes (heaven forbid), then find a player then. Probably the best move at that point would be to acquire a high octane young SS -and push Hanley into the corner, even against his will.

 

Youk could backup 3rd and 1st

 

I'm still getting used to our new ownership. They said they wanted a RH hitting OFer who could also spell CF... I was thinking someone like Reed Johnson, but the Dodgers were thinking Torii Hunter.

I can assure you, with this ownership they are not thinking "Sign Hunter then trade Ethier". That's ridiculous speculation. Hunter can backup CF. Hunter can spell Ethier in a tough Lefty matchup. No one knows exactly what Crawford will be able to do yet, so Hunter is an insurance policy there too. And in interleague play it gives us solid options for DH.

Hunter does not make Ethier expendable. Only Josh Hamilton would make Ethier expendable.

 

No one puts Hanley in a corner!

 

I like the idea of Hunter in the roving OF'er role - even at age 87 - uh, make that 37. I also don't mind sending Andre on his merry way. Let the Puig era begin!

 

How many interleague games do we have this year?

 

I count 10 interleague Road games... I guess that's not a lot.

3 @ Orioles
2 @ Angels
2 @ Yankees
3 @ Blue Jays

 

I guess it seems more when you add in home games. Oh well, we know he could play for 10 games at least.

 

Torre Hunter at age 37 probably doesn't have the legs to play every day for a full season. We have a serious offensive defiency with our outfielders against lefties. Crawford and Dre both in the lineup based on recent year stats is a real problem. Hunter adds so much balance and his best career move now might be us and not starting elsewhere. Youk can play first and we don't have a backup first baseman now and would be a disaster for us if AGon went down and we had no one. Since money isn't an issue carrying the salaries of having the four outfielders along with Hairston isn't a problem.

 

That's the other thing. They wouldn't want Hunter playing everyday. Maybe a small market team would do that, but the Dodgers should never have a 37 year old player they are counting on to play every day.

 

Dre sucked against lefties in 2011. Dodgers had a real concern heading into 2012 and that was a possible contract factor. If I remember correctly he was hitting lefties fine early in the season, got the contract and it was down hill against lefties. Is that sorta accurate?