Can You Ever Have too Much Pitching?

There is an old saying in baseball that you can never have too much pitching, so it seems logical that Dodger fans want Andrew Friedman to pick up more pitchers. Some Dodger fans thought that Andrew Friedman would sign Justin Verlander or Jacob deGrom. He didn’t sign either one and then proceeded to let Andrew Heaney, Tyler Anderson, Chris Martin, and Tommy Kahnle walk. Now I hear Dodger fans want to trade for a closer, such as Liam Hendriks. You can never have too much pitching… Right? Others want Friedman to sign Carlos Rodon, Chris Bassitt, or some other Starting Pitcher because you can never have too much pitching… Right?

In the case of the Dodgers and having too much pitching, I say that is wrong! You can only carry 12 or 13 pitchers on the roster at a time, and if you have a very good farm system as the Dodgers do, you HAVE to let them grow into roles they may be ready for. Andrew Friedman is not afraid to try new things. Over the past several years he has demonstrated a proclivity to take on pitchers who were injured or out of sorts as reclaimation projects. He was successful with some and not successful with others.

Brandon Morrow was a success story. So were Tyler Anderson, Evan Phillips, Yency Almonte, Andrew Heaney, and Chris Martin. Danny Duffy, Tommy Kahnle, and others that Friedman invested in were not a good deal. I suspect he will not be so active in the future in acquiring injured players. Still, I do not blame him for trying. It’s classic low risk – high reward!

The truth is: the Dodgers do not need to add any expensive pitching. We don’t know when Bobby Miller will be ready, but it very well could be THIS year. Ryan Pepiot and Gavin Stone ARE ready ths year. One of the things I have disagreed with Andrew Friedman about is that he sometimes holds back players… especially pitchers. Unless he bombs during Spring Training (and that could happen), Gavin Stone needs to be moved to the 40-man roster and be on the Opening Day Dodger Roster. Ryan Pepiot is right there too.

Let’s look at what the Dodgers starting pitchers look like right about now (the order is irrelevant):

1. Julio Urias (one of the top starters in baseball)
2. Dustin May (he has been used very cautiously and now will be ready for 120+ innings)
3. Tony Gonsolin (no evidence his injury was anything but arm fatigue)
4. Clayton Kershaw (I will take a duplication of what he did last year)
5. Gavin Stone (I have been beating this drum for a while)
6. Ryan Pepiot (a 3.47 ERA as a rookie is pretty dang good – expect improvement)
7. Bobby Miller (great expectations but has not delivered)
8. Mike Grove (he performed as expected and may not be a starter)
9. Trevor Bauer (the 800 Pound Gorilla in the Room – Public Perception is now more on his side)

That is enough depth. Walker Buehler will be back in 2024, and it is not a definite thing that he will be dominant again… be we wait and see. Gonsolin realized his potential last year. Hopefully, this is the year for Dustin May. You have to give it the opportunity. You can have too much pitching if you are blocking the kids.

Then I hear that the Dodgers need a closer – Liam Hendriks has been mentioned, even though the White Sox say they have no intention of trading him. Remember the last closer we acquired from the White Sox? No, thank you! Liam Hendriks will be 34 next season. He toiled in the A’s system for 7 or 8 years until he became their closer. He has a 3.81 ERA in his career and typically blows 4 to 7 saves a year. The problem with Dodger fans is that they see what a guy was, not what he will be! Liam Hendriks is the Flavor of the Week!

You can have Liam Hendriks, and I will take Evan Phillips (1.14 ERA/0.76 WHIP). He’s almost six years younger, and he is ready to close. If he falters, the Dodgers have Daniel Hudson (2.22 ERA, 5-6 in save opportunities last year), Yency Almonte (1.02 ERA & filthy), and Alex Vesia (2.15 ERA). All of them had a better ERA than Hendriks! Like Hendriks, they have not been established closers as yet, but I will take the Dodger’s back-end of the bullpen over just about anyone’s. That bullpen includes the following:

1. Caleb Ferguson (1.82 ERA)
2. Andre Jackson (1.86 ERA – he is going to be outstanding as a reliever)
3. Jake Reed (1.93 ERA – AF sees something in him and so do I)
4. Bazooka (he just needs a little tweak to become unhittable – but I can’t guarantee it)
5. Phil Bickford (not spectacular but reliable)
6. Victor Gonzalez (said to be pain-free and svelte)
7. Shelby Miller (another rehab project)

With Hudson, Phillips, Vesia, and Almonte, that is an outstanding bullpen! Just say no to Liam Hendriks.

Paid Professional Sportswriters are Frequently Wrong!

Witness Jon Heyman trying to he the first to break a story and spouting false information. Heyman is connected to many people within the game, but someone gave him some false information, and he was quick to pass it on. He wanted to be the Hero and instead was branded the GOAT (and I do not mean G.O.A.T.). During this time of year, believe half of what you see and none of what you read. Guys like Andrew Friedman will mislead you. At this juncture, I’d say my record is better than Heyman’s, so you need to give me a raise! 😉

I hear that Farhan is suicidal today!

Rule 5 Draft Today

The Dodgers could lose five players on None… or something in-between. It depends upon what other teams value.

Aaron Bates Promoted

With Brandt Brown moving to the Marlins, Aaron bates will become the hitting coach along with Robert Van Scoyoc. It remains to be seen what that means… if anything. I have heard rumblings that AF wants to cut down on strikeouts (if only by 10%).

Goodbye, Cody, We will remember you back in 2019. Good Luck (except when playing the Dodgers)

Mitch Haniger

The Giants are paying him to be a solid starter, but he will be 32 and has seldom been healthy. I put this is the category of a “dope-fiend move.” 3 Year/$43.5 Million deal. The Dodgers are going to be “bottom feeders” on this. I like a $3 Million/1 Year deal for Andrew McCutchen. That may or may not happen, but this is what the Dodgers are looking for in LF.

Patience Grasshoppers! Something will happen at SS, but it may not even be this year (2022). It might be sometime in 2023!