What Do You Like?

I wish that the Dodgers had traded for Nicholas Castellanos who has been “transformational” for the Cubs since being traded to them. He is hitting .336 with a .373 OB% and a 1.062 OPS to go with 9 Doubles and 11 HR in 119 AB’s. However, to be fair, I have to wonder how he would do in LA. AC pitched DJ LeMahieu as the Dodgers 2B and he is hitting .335 with 24 HR and 90 RBI while OPS’ing .921. He is in the MVP conversation. But would he have been that good in LA? I don’t think so and maybe Casty would have not been that good in LA either.

A lot of what happens for a player and to a player is greatly determined where he lands. Would we be talking about DJ LeMahieu the same way if he was in Cleveland or Houston? Wrigley Field is perfect for Castellanos. Would JD Martinez be the slugger that he is if he hadn’t hit in Arizona and Boston?

Another issue is “Does the player like the city and the people?” Some people are East-coasters, some are West-coasters, others are Midwesterners or Southerners… even Northerners. Some love Minnesota, some hate it. Some love Indiana, like Andrew Luck, who took out a full-page ad in the Indy Star yesterday to say:

Dear Colts Nation,

Thank you!

Thank you for an incredible eight years. For welcoming me with open arms. For helping me grow on and off the field. For helping Nicole and I make Indiana our home. And for showing us the true meaning of Hoosier hospitality. 

It has been the honor of a lifetime to represent the Colts and the city of Indianapolis on the world’s stage. I can’t wait to see our team take the field and continue the journey.

I’m proud to be a Midwesterner, a Hoosier, and a Colt.

Andrew Luck 

Andrew was born in Washington, DC, raised in Texas, went to college at Stanford and now considers himself a “Hoosier.” By-the-way, no one knows what “Hoosier” means, except that you are from Indiana. He likes Indy – just doesn’t want to play foot ball.

I raise these questions because as fans we often look at other players and say “We should trade for them or sign them as a free agent.” But, the questions are many:

1. Do they like the city or area?
2. Does their family feel the same?
3. Do they like the people and the culture?
4. Do they like the climate?
5. How will they fit into the team culture?
6. How will they fit into the team approach?
7. Will they be a star or a piece?
8. How do they mesh with the manager and coaches?

There is so much to consider when a new player comes to a team, through free agency or trade. For example, Hyun-jin Ryu is a free agent after this season. He loves LA, LA has a big Korean community that he feels a part of. Some other cities have Korean Communities, but they are much smaller. Even in NYC, the Korean Community is more scattered. The odds are, Ryu will not find anything close to the Korean Community he has in Los Angeles.

Since his shoulder surgery in 2015, he has pitched 131 innings over those three years. 126 of those innings were last year, meaning that he missed all of 2015 and only pitched 4 innings in 2016. It’s only logical that as he approaches 160 innings this year, that he may be a little fatigued and would benefit from some rest. I think he will pitch close to 200 innings this year (including the playoffs) and finish strong after some rest. But, he will be 33 next year and I know Andrew Friedman would like to sign him for two years. He might go a third, but pitchers (except Justin Verlander) tend to break down at that stage of their careers.

I can see the Dodgers offering him 2 Years/$38 Million or 3 Years/$50 Million. I also think that other GM’s will offer more and this is where it falls upon the player. If it’s $5 million more, it’s an easy choice – with the Korean Culture and Community, he will stay, but if some moron offers him 5 Years/$80 Million, he has to take it. That’s $30 Million Real Dollars. Not many players will leave that kind of money on the table and the MLBPA would be all over them if they did.

That, my friends, is called a conundrum! Stay tuned, as we see how this plays out in in the offseason.

Now, back to this one…

• I stole that line from Vin – Don’t tell him!
• Contrary to what was reported from another blog, Gavin Lux was not called up to the Dodgers yesterday. Most likely, he gets the call today, as it has been rumored that he is in LA. Remember this: the team is not going to let a blogger get a scoop. Never!
• OKC has one more game, but Lux did not play yesterday either. Kyle Garlick hit his 23rd HR (.315/1.061 OPS) and Edwin Rios hit his 31st HR and drove in 5.
• McKinstry continues to rake (.400/1.228 OPS). It will be interesting as to what happens to him.
• The Dodgers team ERA is 1/2 a run a game better than any NL Team.
• As much as everyone has been lamenting the bullpen, they have pulled into the TOP 5 in Bullpen ERA. They are now right there with the best and the “great” Yankee bullpen is now #7.
• The Dodgers bullpen is #2 in WHIP in all of MLB and tied for 2nd for lowest batting average at .229.
• So, to keep parroting that the “Dodgers have bullpen problems” is saying what every team feels. Bullpens are always a problem, but the biggest problem is in your head. By playoff time, the bullpen will be even better.
• Dustin May has struggled in the bullpen (and that’s being kind) but I am not ready to throw in the towel. He will get a couple more opportunities and he should focus on just 1 or 2 pitches. He did make a few really nice pitches.
• Except for May, the Bullpen was outstanding yesterday.
• Striker B today – Time to get that ERA under 3.00!

Headed to Rancho Cucamonga Tomorrow