A Little of Everything and not Much of Anything
While recently doing a bit of background checks on a couple of minor league players I started to think of some Dodger memories that I have and also an update on some current items. First, I don’t know if Gil Hodges should be in the HOF or not. I really liked Harold Baines but as a Dodger in my formative years I revered Hodges as I did so many
While recently doing a bit of background checks on a couple of minor league players I started to think of some Dodger memories that I have and also an update on some current items.
First, I don’t know if Gil Hodges should be in the HOF or not. I really liked Harold Baines but as a Dodger in my formative years I revered Hodges as I did so many other Dodgers. That probably disqualifies me as an even slightly impartial observer. One thing that makes it so difficult to make comparisons is the age in which they played. Gil was the best hitting first baseman during the decade of the fifties. He didn’t have modern day medicine, HGH and steroids, nor did he play in the era of expansion baseball. He has to be compared to his peers, in my opinion. My biggest beef is not that he didn’t make it into the HOF but that somehow the process got sidetracked and he didn’t get a fair hearing.
I tend to think that perhaps his stats were not HOF stats but may have been on the fringe and worthy of a process that wasn’t as flawed as it seems to be. The following article I came across questions the process, not just for Gil but perhaps for others.
Secondly, with the Winter Meetings now in full flight I thought about some trades. Not trades that might be made during the current session as I have no idea in the world what might take place. Probably something that most of us didn’t expect. The trades I am thinking of are not necessarily the best the Dodgers have ever made but all paid dividends. I am surely not thinking of the Paul Konerko, Pedro trades or Adrian Beltre walking as a free agent.
In picking some trades out of my memory bank there are five that pop up quickly and I am sure I am missing others. These are some of my favorites.
Claude Osteen (25) acquired from Washington for Frank Howard, Ken McMullen, Pete Rickert and Phil Ortega. On the surface it appears Washington did very well, which they did, but the Dodgers got what they needed.
Burt Hooten (25) acquired from the Cubs for Eddie Solomon and Greg Zahn.
Dusty Baker (27) traded to the Dodgers by Atlanta for Lee Lacey, Tom Paciorek, Jerry Royster and Jim Wynn. Again, it looked as if the Dodgers got snookered by them and got what they needed.
Reggie Smith (31) sent to the Dodgers by the Cardinals for Freddie Tisdale, Bob Betherage and Joe Ferguson.
Rick Monday (31) from the Cubs for Bill Buckner, Ivan De Jesus and Jeff Albert. I still remember that Monday home run against the Expos in 1981
Thirdly, just a glance at the Dodgers playing Winter League ball.
Matt Beaty .271/.385/.273
Gersel Pitre .278/.278/.333
Christian Santana .288/.329/.394
Joe Broussard ERA 7.27
Victor Gonzalez ERA 7.27
Michael Johnson ERA 0.00 over 3.2 IP
Adam McCreery ERA 3.38 WHIP 1.00
Fourth on my list is a reminiscence. Way back in 1957 I moved from Lunenburg, Nova Scotia with a population of less than 3,000 to the city of Edmonton in Alberta. My folks moved west for my Dad to take his doctorate on a fellowship from the University of Alberta. Needless to say I was devastated to move there at the end of June with the whole summer before me, no friends and no school to acquire friends for two months. My Mom being so wise got me interested in attending the Edmonton Eskimo baseball games. The Eskimos played in the Western Canada Baseball League which was pretty good baseball.
I soon learned the names of the players and although I attended the games alone it was a life-saver. I read about the team, put pictures on my wall, came out of my shell and in September made wonderful friends at Strathcona Composite High School. Now that isn’t the story as there is another story behind this story. My favorite player, with whom I exchanged greeting on a number of occasions, was a 19-year-old outfielder who sometimes played first base. It was none other than Ron Fairly.
Edmonton is only one-time zone away from Los Angeles so I could listen to Dodger games which I did with regularity. It was beyond belief when I tuned into a Dodger game in September of 1958 and Ron Fairly was playing in the outfield for the Dodgers. He went hitless in his first game but in his second appearance against the Phillies he had three hits in four at bats. He finished the season with a .283 batting average in 15 games. Back home in Nova Scotia in 1962 I watched Fairly play a lot with the Expos starting in 1969.
Here is a picture of the Eskimos after their championship run in 1957. Ron Fairly is not too difficult to pick out.
http://www.attheplate.com/wcbl/1957_1g.html
Fifth is something that might have been posted on LADT, but I missed it. Well done OKC Dodgers.
Last Thursday it was announced by Baseball America that the Oklahoma City Dodgers were chosen the winner of this year’s Triple-A Bob Freitas Award, signifying it as the level’s model organization in 2018.
“The award is given to one organization at the Triple-A, Double-A, Single-A and Short Season/Rookie levels and recognizes off-field high achievement in community involvement, long-term business success and consistent operational excellence. It is named after Bob Freitas, the former president of the Rookie Northwest League.”
“Among the accomplishments for the OKC Dodger organization were the youth baseball initiative the OKC Dodgers Rookie League with Oklahoma City Parks and Recreation, numerous charitable efforts through the OKC Dodgers Baseball Foundation and the highest percentage increase in attendance from 2017 among all 16 Pacific Coast League teams.”
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Discussion (90)
Disagree, not disagreeable
he Dodgers have been in touch with the Pirates about catcher Francisco Cervelli, MLB.com’s Ken Gurnick reports. Coming off a solid 2018 season, Cervelli has received trade interest from several teams. The 32-year-old is only under contract through 2019 (at $11.5MM in salary), so that type of short-term fit could appeal to a Dodgers team that has top catching prospects Keibert Ruiz and Will D. Smith getting closer to cracking the MLB roster. In addition to starters like Cervelli, Gurnick notes that L.A. is also looking at “fallback options” like veteran catcher Nick Hundley.
The Dodgers have been heavily linked to the Reds in trade talks, and while Yasiel Puig has prominently featured in these rumors, the New York Post’s Joel Sherman (Twitter links) hears that Puig hasn’t been involved in one of the latest proposals. This version of a deal would see Matt Kemp and Alex Wood go to Cincinnati in exchange for Homer Bailey, which would shave roughly $13MM off of the Dodgers’ luxury tax payroll calculations since Kemp’s contract has a higher average annual value than Bailey’s deal. Given Bailey’s struggles and injury problems over the last few seasons, one would imagine L.A. might pursue something more substantial back (i.e. a prospect or two) rather than pure salary relief, though it’s worth noting that the Dodgers acquired Kemp last offseason in a deal that certainly appeared at the time to be simply a bad contract swap. Clearing some luxury tax room would likely also allow the Dodgers to make another big-ticket addition.
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Seems like we are trying to sign a Vatcher for one year only.
I suggested Hundley before. He is capable.
3 years & $25m.
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There’s the Bridge.
Joe Kelly on the way .
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Wonder how the fans will take to him after the Hanley incident?
As reported by Dodgers.com:
“• Friedman and manager Dave Roberts said they hope to cut the number of positions utilizing platoons.
“The ideal configuration is one to two platoons,” said Friedman. “It keeps more guys active, with more clear-cut playing time. Then you have a bench that has versatility. We started with very few last year, then you have to read and react as the season goes along.””
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Fewer platoons? Guys with more clear-cut ideas about playing time? Fancy that!
Lance Lynn – 3 years $30MM- Texas
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Charlie Morton – 2 years $30MM + 1 year option – Option vests at $15MM if on DL less than 30 days over 2 years; decreases to $10MM, $5MM, $3MM, and $1MM for increased days on DL – Rays
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J A Happ – 2 years $34MM + 1 year option – Option is $17MM – Yankees
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Justin Bour – 1 year $2.5MM – Angels
Barnhart: 10th round pick. Switch-hitter. 28 y.o. come opening day. Good defensive & game-calling rep. Big clubhouse compliments when contract signed. Career
.254/.328./.369 with GG earned in 2017. Career high 10 HR last year and 54/96 bb/k after 42/68 in 2017. Numbers in minors in line with 476 game MLB career. Looks like a guy who gets the most out of his talent. More than qualified to be a back-up. More like a tandem partner.
So, I come back two hours later. I did my job: I helped the Pacers give an old fashioned beat down to the Bucks. We led from tip to buzzer. But you guys can’t get anything done. What good are you?
I’m sure none of us knew about this, nobody even remembered Mike Hampton, but one more example of how bad it can be and it ends up being such a long contract !!
Open on sports.yahoo.comhttps://sports.yahoo.com/rockies-will-finally-stop-paying-pitcher-signed-2001-191503947.htmlJoel Sherman tweeted current version of Reds deal being rumored is Kemp’s $20 million AAV for Bailey’s $17.5 million AAV plus Alex Wood for ?
The Reds picked up Tanner Roark for a soon to be 26 year old RHRP, Tanner Rainey. Rainey has a plus plus fastball that often touches 98-100, with a complimentary plus power slider and getting more swing and miss. He pitched well in AAA last year, and his “stuff” started working better when he worked to less batters. This could be another late inning reliever for the Nats. They must have a good feel for another FA starting pitcher to replace Roark, since they said they were not going to trade Roark unless they had another starter to replace him. Rainey was the #23 prospect for the Reds.
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If anyone is expecting anything more in return for Alex Wood, they are not watching what is going on. Wood is three years younger than Roark, and Roark was projected to earn nearly $1MM more than Wood in arbitration. So Wood should bring back someone in the #10-#20 range of prospects, depending on the team and quality of farm system.
OK, hold down the fort for a couple of hours while I am at this Pacers Bucs game. Victor is back!
D.C.-I golf and play bridge with a guy by the name of Ted Equals. He was a catcher. He played for Edmonton. He graduated from High School in 1956. He never made it to the majors. I play bridge with him tomorrow and I will ask more questions.
Bluto and DC – Great stuff on the lost art of bunting and hitting to the opposite field.
Only problem is, have you guys been to see any HS baseball games???
The last thing on their mind is bunting and/or choking up and going opp field…
I say bring back wood bats to baseball at all levels…
P.S. When we got the ‘Toy Cannon’ and Reggie Smith were some of my greatest afternoons at the Ravine… Reggie and his bad attitude pinned on him ended up a myth..Bean Town was a helluva place to play if you were a player of color..
Really like the Morton deal for Tampa Bay. I feel like we kinda started this thing with our three-year deal for Rich Hill. It’s a way to get a top-of-the-rotation [-ish] starter without spending $100 million. Just sign a guy in his mid-30’s to a short-term deal!
Gennett and Bailey for Kemp, Stewart and Wood match up financially for both teams. The Reds would get a quality pitcher, a young arm and a RH bat to platoon with Schebler. The Dodgers would get a second baseman to hold the spot for Lux and save a couple million off the luxury tax threshold.
I don’t know when it will happen and I believe nothing I hear, but pretty soon, they are gonna fall and then, it’s on:
Dave Roberts on asking Dodgers hitters to adjust vs shifts: “It should be important enough to get on base to be able to manipulate the bat and hit the ball the other way or to lay a bunt down. So I will say as far as offensively, philosophically, for us, this year, …we’re going to get better at that. When you see one player on the left side of the infield and you’re down a run, we’re going to challenge our guys to find a way to hit it over there. … It’s going to be a priority for us to get better at that.”
So, if we’re out on Cervelli, does that mean Stripling is being used in another trade or are we close on another catcher?
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So far, “We need a catcher” is about as close to a consensus view on our off-season plan as we can get. Second would probably be that we have an outfield surplus/logjam that needs attending to. Third would be we are always looking for relief help.
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Feels like Kluber & Realmuto are holding up the market a bit. I don’t expect Harper or Machado to sign any time soon so it’s foolish to look to them to get the action going. Haven’t heard about Grienke in a while; maybe he’s the next big piece to go.
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Since there’s nada happening at the moment, here are a few teams I think are looking to shake things up, aside from the usual suspects of Mariners, Braves, Blue Jays, & Mets:
1. Giants–Boy do they need a lot. And they have a new GM. We’ve heard Bumgarner’s name often, as well as Brandon Belt. Longoria’s contract is a disaster [challenge trade for Kyle Seager anyone?] and a soft rebuild looks likely. Don’t see them in on Harper but they could be plotting a major move.
2. Padres–Staying in the division, they sure seem like they want to be this year’s Braves: arriving perhaps a year before planned. They need pitching and pitching is available. Curious to see what they do.
3. White Sox–Everybody’s mystery team for Harper which means they are no longer a mystery. MLBN did a piece on their payroll commitments in 2020 and I think it was $6 mil! They are close to starting over and use a franchise cornerstone to go with Moncada & Kopech. We will hear lots of Harper-to-CWS talk.
4. Rays–Heard they could pair Morton with Snell atop the rotation, maybe sign Nelson Cruz. They were the best team that missed the playoffs last year. They have to push some chips in.
5. Cardinals–What’s the point of adding an MVP candidate for one year if you’re not going to continue adding? They have a good opportunity to sneak past the stagnant Cubs if they are aggressive and swift. Wouldn’t be shocked to see them somehow land Kluber.
Any chance we are trying for Jose Martinez from STL to send to FLA instead of Bellinger for Realmuto?
The trade for Martinez is Will Smith, but the Dodgers have to make sure they get another catcher before trading Smith.
I read a salary dump trade on another site last night. Kemp to the Dbacks for Tomas. Kemp is 21m for 1 year Tomas is 36m for 2 years. Because Tomas is not on the 40 man his salary doesn’t count against the CBT.
I’m kind of excited to see what the new hitting coach can do. If he can get half out of everyone that he did with Lux the offense could be a monster.
A definite no for Realmuto if the price is Bellinger. If Kasten gets Harper then going with Barnes and a stopgap like Maldonado or Lucroy is do able.
How about Tulo for second base and
I have it in pretty good authority that:
1. Turner Ward could have stayed in LA but Robert VS was coming anyway and Wards role would change
2. Cincy agreed to pay Ward what he would get in playoff money if the Reds don’t go as far.
3. Kasten wants Friedman to sign Harper.
Kluber was pretty damn good last year, 3rd in Cy Young voting. Yes, he as miles, but he also has club options. I think a lot of risk is mitigated with those options and his contract is cheap compared to his performance. It’s hard to judge his value because of all those innings. I know, I know, exception and not the rule and all, but he can also be the exception to the rule. I would trade Verdugo or Puig for him, but not Belli.
I read this somewhere so only repeating and not suggesting because it is even farther out than anything I might humor myself with. Here goes: Kemp, Hill, Puig, Wood to Cincinnati. I don’t remember who the Dodgers were going to get back.
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Other rumors are Baily and prospects coming to LA for Puig and Baily would be used as a reliever if kept by the Dodgers. He apparently still has velocity. Even with Baily coming back to the Dodgers the Dodgers would have a big salary dump and room would be made in the rotation and outfield. The Reds are willing to spend money this year and would be better able to use those 4 Dodgers in 2019 given that Baily is basically unusable.
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Rotation: Kershaw, Buehler, Ryu, Maeda, Stripling with depth coming from May, Stewart, Gonsolin, White, Urias.
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Sign Robertson as a FA to bolster the bullpen.
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Mark has now sided with me regarding Kluber and his age and wear and tear resulting from his success and resultant accumulation of innings. Don’t need Kluber. Don’t need Realmuto at the price Marlins have put on his head. Keeps Smith and Ruiz on deck.