Get Over Darvish and Get Used To Kemp!
Just Say No Yu The Dodgers Ace, Clayton Kershaw had a 4.02 ERA in the World Series and he s a goat? The Astros Ace, Justin Verlander was awesome with a 3.75 ERA and he is amazing? Dallas Keuchel (the Astros #2) had a 5.32 ERA in the World Series. Yu Darvish ERA in the World Series? 21.60. Let s sign him. Hell no! On the biggest stage in baseball, namely the
Just Say No Yu
- The Dodgers Ace, Clayton Kershaw had a 4.02 ERA in the World Series and he’s a goat?
- The Astros Ace, Justin Verlander was awesome with a 3.75 ERA and he is amazing?
- Dallas Keuchel (the Astros #2) had a 5.32 ERA in the World Series.
- Yu Darvish ERA in the World Series? 21.60. Let’s sign him. Hell no!
On the biggest stage in baseball, namely the World Series, Yu Darvish didn’t just mess up – he was deplorable. Clayton Kershaw has had some excellent outings in the playoffs and World Series, only to have it unravel in one inning (like the 7th).
Clayton Kershaw has a 4.35 ERA in the playoffs, but if you take away a couple of bad innings, his ERA is in the 2.00’s. No excuses, just fact. Yu Darvish has a 5.81 ERA in the Post-Season including a 21.60 ERA in the World Series last year. He pitched 3.1 innings and allowed 9 hits, 9 runs and 2 HR in those debacles. He had two opportunities to win the World Series for the Dodgers and in both cases, not only could he not get it done, but he was worse and badder than bad. Yes, “badder.”
Kobe was a killer. Michael Was a Killer. Mad Bum was a Killer. Clayton wasn’t and Yu Darvish was a baby pitching to men. I don’t care if he was tipping his pitches, with his stuff, no one should hit him like that. Yu Darvish is not a killer and he will block some of our kids. Hopefully, FAZ is just runnng up the price on Yu. Darvish? NO!
By all accounts, Yu Darvish is a wonderful person. He’s a great guy! His teammates love him. Clayton wants him back. The problem is: He’s not a killer. He comes up totally empty on the biggest stage! Move on – there’s nothing to see here folks. Darvish will not be a Dodger.
Get Used to Matt Kemp
For those of you who think Matt Kemp will not be on the team at the start of the season: You may be right… or not! The Dodgers have tried to trade him, but they have a figure in mind, and so far, no one has agreed to it. If you think some team will trade for Matt Kemp and assume some salary if the Dodgers throw in Wilmer Font, you are delusional. If you think the Dodgers are going to release Kemp before Spring Training, you are delusional. If you think the White Sox will trade for Kemp, you are delusional. However, the Dodgers are not delusional.
They owe Kemp $43 million over the next two years, and unless some team wants to pay at least $15 million of that, they have nothing to lose by seeing what he can do. Actually, the Dodgers are probably asking for a team to pay 50% of his salary. Maybe some team will step up, but I doubt it. Yes, I have heard that Kemp is a defensive liability, but I do not believe that! I believe that if Matt Kemp WANTS to play defense in LF, he can play at least up to league average… probably better.
Friday night, I watched the Indiana Pacers give up 49 points in the first quarter. Last night, they gave up 27 points in the first quarter. Their head was not in the game Friday night. They are human. Matt Kemp’s head probably was not in the game playing for Atlanta or San Diego, but given a shot at redemption back in LA, he just might surprise you as a defender. This is a case of where you forget the stats.
Unless the Dodgers are overwhelmed with an offer, Matt Kemp will have every opportunity to be the Dodgers left fielder in 2018. I am not delusional – he will never win a Gold Glove in LF, but he can be serviceable. In fact, barring injury, I expect Matt Kemp to be the starting LF on Opening Day. I would not even be surprised if Kemp put up some monster numbers…
He’s in great shape and would like to be a part of a winning team. They say you can never go home, but Kemp is home and poised to deliver. Very few players can help a team like Matt Kemp. Conversely, very few players can destroy a team like Matt Kemp. Thus… Chase Utley! Chase Utley is vitally important as the locker room Policeman. Kike, Justin, even Cody and Corey can hold their own and Yasmani Grandal is quietly an enforcer.
Many fans, beat writers and national correspondents say that Kemp will be cut or traded. Timmons says no. Let’s see who is right!
Wilmer Font
This guy could be big part of the Dodgers pen in 2018. He approaches triple digits and has a rising fastball. Look out for this guy!
Trades
Trayce Thompson, Ross Stripling, Kyle Farmer, Joc Pederson and Rob Segedin are all being shopped. Only the right deal will move them.
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Discussion (60)
Disagree, not disagreeable
Here’s a very exciting thing I read today about Scott Alexander:
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“Justin Turner at third base, Corey Seager at shortstop, Logan Forsythe at second base and Cody Bellinger at first base combined to save 23 runs last year with their defense, according to FanGraphs.
Kansas City’s infield of Mike Moustakas, Alcides Escobar, Whit Merrifield and Eric Hosmer combined to save -14.”
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He is licking his chops to play in LA.
Open on dodgers.mlblogs.comhttps://dodgers.mlblogs.com/dodgers-newest-reliever-alexander-is-winning-the-battle-over-himself-c59936b5b134It looks more and more like the team is set going into ST. That is not a bad thing, and I have read the team walks away from more deals than any other. There will also be some spirited competition for the last few spots on the 25 man. FAZ will continue to work around the edges of the 40 man all season long and use the OKC express.
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Biggest battles:
1. Who steps up in LF? There are not enough AB’s for all the competition they have created.
2. Who wins the battle for #5 starter? I think Beuhler and Stewart go to AAA and Stripling and Font go to the BP.
3. Who is the setup man for Jansen? It is probably by committee, Baez and Alexander 1st up.
4. Who wins the catching job? This battle is good for the team, hope they both play a lot.
5. To Utley or not to Utley? I think he is a safe addition but won’t play a lot. They have internal options too.
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I am more than ready for the start of ST, and the real speculation begins. There are some positions with real competition but only a handful of spots are really in play and about 22 locks to make opening day.
Here are some of the things everybody will be watching in order to asses whether some of the negatives from last year might hang over to 2018.
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1. Joc’s weight and quickness and ability to hit more often to the opposite field.
2. Forsythe’s ability to hit righties.
3. Puig’s ability to hit lefties.
4. Kemp’s attitude, weight, and defense.
5. Bellinger’s swings at breaking balls into his feet.
6. Buehler’s control.
7. Toles recovery from surgery.
8. Verdugo’s power and readiness for the MLB.
9. Barnes and Grandal competition.
10. Baez’ ability to cut 2 minutes off his average time between pitches.
Twisting!!! Nope… I’d love to have Grandal win out in ST and give me his 2016 numbers or close…
Haters gonna hate ??? Who in the heck hates Grandal???
Really though, could you clarify Dodgers win the WS if Grandal is behind the dish???Pitch framing??? Calls a good game??? Hitting??? I got to know…
Go Philly… (actually I’m in it for the commercials)
I do not think FAZ will do anything more this year. We are set until the trading deadline in August. Barnes and Grandal will compete for the starting position. Regardless, we will have strength in that position. LF is wide open. Someone will have a very good ST and take control. The starting pitchers and bullpen will work out. We have the arms. Doc and Honeycutt will make decisions on how the players produce and where they fit in. I am very confident we will win the West again and play in the WS and win it all this year. Let ST begin. I cannot wait.
Darvish in his major league career is 56-42 and he is looking for somewhere between $150 to $175 M for the next 5 or 6 years, whereas Ryu was 28-15 in his first 2 years with the Dodgers before he missed all of 2015 and then had just I start in 2016. This is Ryu’s last contract year with the Dodgers and all things considered I’d rather go with Ryu. I’d much prefer Buehler and his potential for the next 5 or 6 years over Darvish and his aging skills.
I think you are right about Kemp, I don’t see Pederson beating out Toles or Verdugo for the left field position. Kemp just needs to play reasonable defense and show some offense to beat out Toles and Verdugo ( 43M reasons why that is even remotely possible ) to be the starting left fielder.I think Toles will have a good spring but I think it would take a great spring for Toles and a disaster of a spring for Kemp to even get FAZ to even think about Kemp on the bench. Great shape and attitude with Kemp on the bench become what all are worried about, Kemp being the self-centered jerk he is and causing nothing but trouble until they let him go. I think all are hoping he looks good and some team puts in a very very small bid for him.
Well, Peter, that was not just written for you… there might be one or two people other than you who read this blog.
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Open on www.mlb.comhttps://www.mlb.com/dodgers/video/top-catchers-right-now-grandal/c-1873523683–
Evidently, you are talking about someone else, because I have never called him the best catcher in baseball… maybe “one of the best!”
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And, I did not say he was “Our enforcer” – I said he was “quietly an enforcer.”
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Big Difference – You are consistent – You pretty much have twisted everything I wrote, but if it makes you happy, have at it – you must be ecstatic!
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I am pretty much used to people downgrading Grandal. He had a bad year last season. Kike had a bad season in 2016, but I still knew his value. He came back strong in 2017. Watch Yasmani take his job back this year!
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Maybe he will improve on his PB, but if he does, some will say that his eyebrows are too bushy. Haters gonna’ hate!
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Grandal is one of the best catchers in baseball. I love Barnes too, but right now he’s “everyone’s flavor of the month.”
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I generally don’t second guess, but put me in the category that if Grandal were the catcher in the WS, the Dodgers would have won. It should not be lost on anyone that Yasmani’s son was born during the World Series. I have no idea what role his wife’s difficult pregnancy had in his season, but Kike’s father having cancer evidently distracted Kike in 2016.
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Wow M.T. I said I would “consider” Yu… “Get over it”??? I’ve said many times I’m more than happy with the team I have going into ST and the F.O. will adjust at the trade deadline as req’d.
And the monikers hail down upon us!!! “Deplorable” “Badder”, “locker room Policeman” “delusional” etc. etc.
Of course, once hailed as the the best catcher in the known baseball world, Good Old P.B Grandal is now ” quietly our “Enforcer”…
I don’t know about the rest of you, but feel a sense of calmness and Oh heck, sorta warm and fuzzy…
Frankly, I would rather trade for someone in late July so we would only owe 2 month’s salary against the cap instead of an entire season. I suspect many teams will try to free up money for 2019 free agency and some bargains may be available. This will be especially true for those teams who have tried to compete in 2018 but have determined that they are not going to make the playoffs.
It would be nice to have a stud RHP right behind CK, but not at the expense that most teams want for one. I still believe FAZ is in no rush to make things happen this year, but will wait to see how things play out this ST. I see the trade deadline as the moment of truth for this year’s club. Then we can all sit back and see what they do with the likes of Kemp, Pederson, and others who could be moved in a trade.