None of this counts. Idaho Al was wondering why 31 year-old Ezequiel Carrera was playing LF yesterday. Here’s the answer: I don’t know! However, since Taylor, Pederson or Verdugo did not play and Miller opted out, I would suspect that yesterday was a scheduled off day for the three players mentioned or maybe they had a little tweek… like Rich Hill. If it were the regular season one of the three would have been there. These games mean nothing. I know Joc was held out for his back and Verdugo was working elsewhere. Maybe CT3 was getting some hitting instruction?
Brock Stewart starts today. I would not read much into that, except that they are conserving the pitchers who will make the team. I used to belive Brock could be a good reliever, but now that ship has sailed. He’s a AAAA pitcher… a RH Eric Stultz. Why he thinks he is a starter and anyone on the Dodgers buys into that amazes me. Now, if they start him today and say “Go two innings” and he does, I will change my mind. He has a shot, but he needs to develop a 2 inning mentality!
There is one spot left. Ken Gurnick says this is the roster, with one spot to be decided. If Brock pitches out of his mind, he could snatch it, but he had better change his thinking:
Catchers: Austin Barnes, Russell Martin
Infielders: Max Muncy, Enrique Hernández, Corey Seager, Justin Turner, Chris Taylor, David Freese
Outfielders: Cody Bellinger, A.J. Pollock, Joc Pederson, Alex Verdugo
Starting pitchers: Hyun-Jin Ryu, Ross Stripling, Kenta Maeda, Walker Buehler, Julio Urías
Relief pitchers: Kenley Jansen, Joe Kelly, Pedro Báez, Scott Alexander, Caleb Ferguson, Yimi Garcia, Dylan Floro
So, Ryu has proven himself useful already and will start on Opening Day… barring further injuries. I have a sneaking suspicion that he is in for a career year…
The Dodgers wanted Urias in the bullpen for the first 6 weeks of the season and then gradually wanted to stretch him out, but with Hill and Kershaw both on the IL, he is pressed into action. How they handle him will be interesting. I happen to believe he can pitch 180 innings this year (including the post-season), but they will have to slow him down somehow.
Yesterday, Hamchuck asked about Deacon Liput and Cody Thomas. Well, he’s in luck as DC has profiled both players. It was nice to see Kendall get to play – hopefully this will help his confidence and development.D
DC Wrote this about Cody Thomas in a blog about the AFL:
Cody Thomas:
Thomas, who just turned 23 on October 8, was selected by the Dodgers in the 13th round of the 2016 Amateur Draft out of the University of Oklahoma. The left-handed hitting outfielder, who throws right-handed, hit 19 home runs with the Quakes along with 35 doubles. His 87 runs batted in were second most in the league. The 6’4”/211-pound Thomas led the league in total bases with 248 while finishing second with 82 runs. On the year he hit .285 with an OBP of .355. He has hit at least 19 home runs in each of his three minor league seasons. We can expect Thomas, or perhaps Jared Walker, to represent the Glendale Desert Dogs in the Bowman Hitting Challenge on October 13.
Later he profiled both here: All Stars in Waiting
Discussion (52)
Disagree, not disagreeable
Mark thank you for researching those two players and finding DC’s info. This Cody Thomas looks very interesting.
Thank you DC also for working on these young players. I know it is a lot of work and time consuming.
Try this:
https://ladodgertalk.com/2018/12/01/deacon-liput-catalyst/
The Reds sure didn’t need this to happen, because they don’t have the same depth we do.
Scooter Gennett will be out 2 to 3 months, from freak injury.
Really too bad for Scooter going into his free agency year but I think that means Farmer will now start the year in the majors when he was originally going to be optioned. One guy’s misfortune……………………………….
Singing the Blues,
From what I read, the Reds top prospect might be called back up because he can play second.
But if Farmer does get the call, I wish him well.
That really sucks for Scooter.
Roberts talk: Hernandez will be full-time 2B and only strict platoon will be LF (Joc/Taylor).
Ergo, Verdugo is 4th OF & Freese main PH. Taylor moving all around and catcher job-share.
Must have taken two paragraphs for Doc to say what you said in two sentences. The other day he said Freese will be in there against lefties, so he’s continuing to contradict himself. But, what you’re saying is music to my ears if it in fact happens that way and it should until Taylor gets going. With that said, it probably makes more sense to let AJ leadoff and Kike hit in the middle.
It sure looks like the Dodgers lost the better of the two 2018 OKC starting pitchers last year.
AC
It does appear that way.
The best game Brock Stewart ever pitched, was against the Cubs in Brocks first year up, in the majors.
Now he seems to pitch to defensively when he gets in trouble, instead of going after hitters, and hitters, can sense that.
DC also wrote the following on Liput:
https://ladodgertalk.com/wp-admin/post.php?post=5089&action=edit
I believe I wrote quite a bit about Liput at last year’s draft, and wrote about both last season. I would expect both will be featured in some capacity this year.
AC for some reason I am not allowed to open to file and read?
Verdugo Should hit Leadoff
Verdugo
Pollock
Seager
Turner
Muncy
Bellinger
Kike
Martin
Verdugo is not a bad choice, but unless Joc’s back is still bothering him, I think he is going to get most of the at bats, between the two.
Verdugo hasn’t done enough in spring training to take those at bats away from Joc, even if it was a true competition.
MJ, you’re being too nice. Verdugo hasn’t done enough to prove he belongs in a Major League lineup as a bench piece, much less a lead-off hitter. He’s lucky Toles is MIA, otherwise he wouldn’t even be on the 25 man.
59
I don’t even think if Toles came to spring training and out produced Verdugo, it would really matter.
I just don’t think it would be a true competition.
I wish Chase Utley could talk to Toles, because Toles has said, Chase is the player he really looks up to.
59
I just don’t think it would be a true competition between the two, so it wouldn’t matter what Toles did.
But I wish Chase Utley could talk to Toles, because Toles said Chase was the player he most wanted to emulate.
Verdugo is a good choice to bat leadoff?
Let’s see here.
283 Spring OBP
309 Lifetime MLB OBP
100 career ABs with 0 stolen bases 1 caught stealing and 12 runs scored.
Oh, but he doesn’t strike out alot? 18 times in 100 ABs? Still kind of alot.
Great choice Carlos! Put a guy with little experience in the top spot so he gets the most ABs out of everyone on the team. After he has a crappy Spring and after he’s done little at the Major League level so far in his career.
Okay, I can see a possible argument, a weak one at that to replace Pederson. A very weak argument to replace Pederson who was an All-Star, crushes righties, has had 25 HRs every season in which he’s had at least 400 ABs. But, to say he should bat leadoff? With only 100 ABs? With 0 Stolen Bases? After a bad Spring?
Just to do a little math for you. Last year, Joc struck out 85 times in 385 ABs, so 22% of his ABs were Ks. Verdugo has 100 career ABs and 18 Ks for 18% Ks.
Joc’s Career OBP is 339, Verdugo’s is 309.
Joc’s career SLG 456, Verdugo is 360
Please tell me why Verdugo should bat leadoff? You said he makes more contact? Is a ground ball to second base to start the game better than a strikeout?
You cannot compare Joc and Verdugo. Verdugo has much beter skill set to be leadoff than Joc because he has more contact. He has only 100 ML AB, you need contact hitters at the top of the Lineup. Look at his minor league stats. Joc is a swing and miss guy just swinging to the fences and cant hit lefties and strikes out a bunch and is not a good runner.
Joc has never hit .250 in a season. Has bad BA and his OBP was decent but lately has been bad. He is not a good choice for Leadoff Hitter.
Neither of them should bat leadoff. Verdugo did nothing to take Joc’s spot. 0-3 with a lot of contact again today.
Stewart blew his chance…
Already, damn! And here I am waiting for the game to start at 1. Stewart sucks, he had a little run and that’s it.
Why does everyone want Pollock as their leadoff? It is true that he would be perfect in that place, but we dont have a true fifth bat so why not leave Kike as leadoff and Pollock as fifth?
2B – Kike & Taylor
SS – Seager
3B – Turner
RF – Bellinger
CF – Pollock
1B – Muncy
C – Barnes & Martin
LF – Pederson & Verdugo
P – Anyone
Jorge
Pollock is an experienced lead off hitter, and as much as I have liked what I saw from Kike in spring training, he has not hit as well as Pollock, in high leverage situations.
But your right, Pollock could probably bat fifth too.
But I am sure this line up will be adjusted as we go along, except Corey and Turner, because those two will definitely be hitting either second or third.
I would rather have Pollock batting in the middle of the order separating left handed power bats, like Jorge pointed out. But, I kinda like Kike in the middle against Lefties. The problem is that we don’t have a true leadoff hitter, so something has to give.
MJ, Pollock has more ABs in the middle of the order than he does batting leadoff.
Muncy is a good “out of the box” choice to bat leadoff as well. Not ideal, just out of the box. Maybe “Marnes” needs to bat leadoff!
59
Thanks I didn’t know that, but if Muncy can be close to the hitter he was last year, and have that same type of plate discipline, he might be a pretty good lead off hitter.
But I guess it is hard to know at this point, with no ideal lead off hitter, and it would also be nice, to have a true clean up hitter too.
Because if we did, then AJ might fit better in the lead off position.
Jorge. Good Choice !
But i am not sure about Kike and Taylor Leadoff ! Too much all or nothing guys and high K guys. But good choice I would go by
Verdugo
Pollock
Seager
Turner
Muncy
Bellinger
Kike
Martin
Hi Carlos. Good to see you
Jorge,
I would swap C and LF
Not everyone, Jorge. I have rooted for Kike at this position and Pollock batting 5th, but I can live with Pollock leading off because he’s a hitter and that’s what we need as a leadoff batter. He also has some speed and maybe we’ll see some more SB’s this season. Dodgers are solid from batters 1 through 5, after that, well………………………
I think there is going to be some disappointment again with the roster and the lineups. I don’t consider the Dodgers locks for anything. They had to earn their title last season and barely made it to division leader. They could easily have missed the post season. They have also not shown a consistent hitting approach to ST and I see no evidence that the new batting coach and instructors have made any difference at all. Kike turned the corner last season in the 2nd half of the season. Pederson, Taylor, and Muncy, all have the same habits as last year. None have showed any improvement overall. Where is the guarantee that the Dodgers are a lock for anything? It is only in the pitching department that we see the potential. Pitching can be enough to make a team a winner, but a complete team is the most essential guarantee of going the distance and the Dodgers are NOT a complete team. The only other factor I can give any credence to is the LUCK factor. The Dodgers will need plenty of it and a lot less arrogance thinking they are a lock for anything. Perhaps it’s just the fans that are arrogant thinking they are a superior team. One key injury and the odds turn sour.
Season starting. Dodgers gonna be very competitive again. My advice is enjoy it and don’t sweat the small stuff. So much more important things to worry about then whether the Dodgers have enough right handed bats. That’s what the experts get paid for. One thing for sure when the inevitable injuries strike there isn’t a team in MLB that is deeper and more able to handle it. I predict another LA div west champ . All the other stuff kinda hard to predict but Dodger chances are as good as any team in MLB. GO DODGERS.
Mark–Stults ended up to be not bad. Better than Ely. Stewart is lucky if he even sniffs the bigs again. I’d love to see it.
Now that Trout is the biggest fish in the pond, will the Freeway Series be more interesting to watch? I think the Angels will draw added crowds wherever they play.
Hernandez is coming back down to earth but is making believers out of decision makers.
Since Smith and Barnes are the Dodgers’ catchers long term, maybe Ruiz will spend some time at first base this year.
I think Smith has more versatility than Ruiz.
I doubt the Ruiz plays anywhere but C.
Smith will catch a lot fewer games than Ruiz.
If the Dodgers need another bat, Smith will likely be part of the package.
Agree. And if Barnes shows improvement we still control him for three years after 2019. As a back-up catcher/utility man he has good value. Then there’s Wong and Cartaya. Smith is probably one of our few “expendable” prospects.
IMO, there is nothing backup about Barnes if he continues to play at the level he has been playing. People tend to over-think this position because of the Grandal affair and Barnes no-show last season. If this is the player that Barnes really is (ST Barnes), our catcher has been found. You don’t replace a guy playing like this. Of course, things could go south for him but it remains his job to lose.
Interesting conclusion that the Angels will draw bigger crowds, not because they added some stars, or that they will better, but because they pay Trout more money. I’m not sure that thinking leads to a valid business plan. I think I’m gonna go to the bank and ask for a small business loan and tell them my business plan is to pay my employees more money so I can attract bigger crowds…
So begins another year, and another pitching staff full of injuries. Lucky we have a lot of pitchers. Whoever was hoping and wishing for Brock Stewart to make the team got their wish, and the cost of a better pitcher going to the DL. Karma?
MT, you are absolutely right in keeping us frustrated fans in check by explaining why we had a dud in the starting lineup yesterday. Spring is over. The first two freeway series games are the final tuneup. The third game is so guys that want work get it, guys that don’t get an extra day off.
Thank God meaningful games begin soon. I’m even tired of myself questioning Doc’s Spring Training lineups. I can’t wait for the season to start so I can question his regular season lineups.
Less platooning was the mantra for the offseason. I guess that’s entirely plausible since we now have 3 everyday players set in the lineup that includes Pollock, Turner and Seager. It’s funny that our so called “Every Day” players have such an extensive injury history. Actually, that’s not very funny at all.
Right Handed Pitching Lineup
Pollock – CF
Seager – SS
Turner – 3B
Bellinger – RF
Kike – 2B
Pederson – LF
Barnes – C
Muncy – 1B
Left Handed Pitching Lineup
Pollock – CF
Seager – SS
Turner – 3B
Freese – 1B
Bellinger – RF
Kike – 2B
Taylor – LF
Barnes – C
Verdugo seems to be destined to become the 4th outfielder
Kershaw and Hill are out and Bueller isn’t built up.
Who thought this would be our rotation to start the year? Bad management, or bad luck?
Hyun-Jin Ryu
Kenta Maeda
Ross Stripling
Julio Urías
Walker Buehler
The back end of this bullpen looks great! Who’s gonna be the long reliever? I think we should go with what we have on the 40 until May, so we can get another year of control out of Gonsolin.
Kenley Jansen
Joe Kelly
Pedro Báez
Yimi Garcia
Scott Alexander
Caleb Ferguson
Dylan Floro
Stewart / Santana / ???
The 40 man roster is set at 39. Why didn’t we keep Miller? Are we going to start the clock on Gonsolin? Will help come from the outside?