It s Time For Dodger Baseball

Time for Dodger Baseball. I like the sound of that as we begin Spring Training games today against the hated Giants. We all know ST games are meaningless in wins and losses, but I still want to see a win in every game. If you compete, compete to win.

Before I get into ST, I want to offer my response to the apparent skepticism about the Dodger pitching. Are there questions? Of course. But it seems that the same scrutiny given to LAD pitching is not considered for the other contenders. Everyone seems to be fearing Gerrit Cole, and yet he has an underwhelming 3-2 record with a 5.53 ERA and a 1.402 WHIP in 40.2 IP against the Dodgers. If I use the same logic as many do about Dodger pitching, I would not send out Cole against the Dodgers. The new LAD player, Mookie Betts, is 6-11 against Cole. It seems Dodger fans fear Cole more than the Dodger hitters.

I keep reading about the Dodgers cannot go against the 1-2 of the Nats. Maybe I am the only one, but I remember Max Scherzer had a tough 2nd half last year with injuries (yes other team’s pitchers also get injured, not just LAD pitchers). In the 2nd half, Max started 8 games and pitched 43.0 innings. That is less than 5.1 IP on average. He had a 4.81 ERA and 1.163 WHIP. He allowed 9 HRs in those 43.0 IP, to a 1.88 HR/9. He will be 36 in July. Older than both Price and Kershaw. But age and injuries are only allowed to be issues for Dodger pitchers?

Everyone has anointed the Yankees as the WS champions once they got Cole. Of course Gerrit Cole makes that rotation better. He would make any rotation better. But his addition to the NYY rotation improves them far more than had he joined the LAD rotation. That is because the rest of that Swiss Cheese rotation is full of holes.

Luis Severino – so called co-Ace – Did not pitch much at all last year, and is already shut down this ST. He is undergoing multiple tests to try and determine where the forearm pain is coming from.

James Paxton – NYY #3 – Had back surgery, and is not expected to rejoin the team until June. If he were a Dodger pitcher, the skeptics would say we should not expect anything from him for the year. However, because he is a NYY, he will be considered a lock down #3 starter to finish the year.

Masahiro Tanaka – 11-9 with a 4.45 ERA. If he were a Dodger he would castigated by the fans. How can a ML team like the Dodgers have a starting pitcher with a 4.45 ERA. Maeda was better than that, and he would have been better suited for the bullpen rather than as a starter for the Dodgers.

Jordan Montgomery – Projected #5 starter – He was basically shut down in both 2018 and 2019 due to TJ surgery. What would Dodger fans say if Montgomery were a Dodger? And yet he is the consensus choice to be the #5.

Domingo German – Domestic abuse suspension.

J. A. Happ – 12-12 4.91 ERA in 2019.

That rotation does not scare me. But then I am a Pollyanna who believes the Dodger pitching is better than most give them credit for. I like the Dodgers projected rotation of Buehler/Kershaw/Price/Urias/Wood. I have more confidence in Strip, May and Gonsolin than I would have in Tanaka, Montgomery, Happ, and German, and with the injuries of Paxton and Severino, even they could be surpassed by the LAD trio that is not expected to be good enough to start the season in the rotation. The Dodgers have more good pitching than any team in MLB. They need to play 162 games to find out who is going to step up for the playoff rotation. Or 100-110 games before the trading deadline to see if a co-Ace is available.

ST games are important to see who the difference makers may be. Some will make the roster out of ST, while others will journey back to OKC to begin the season, but be a phone call away to stepping into the lineup.

Now onto ST. I know Cassidy asked about potential surprises, and I could not come up with just one. This year promises to be a potential WS championship team. We enter ST with a lot of questions, so this ST is going to be important. There are six new faces to the team led by 5-tool phenom OF Mookie Betts, David Price, Blake Treinen, Brusdar Graterol, Alex Wood (not totally new). How will they fit in with the Dodger culture? There are also three new members to the 40 man: DJ Peters, Mitchell White, and Zach McKinstry.

Then there are Non-Roster Invites (NRI):
Pitchers:
Brett de Geus
Jo Jo Gray
Reymin Guduan
Marshall Kasowski
Kyle Lobstein
Zach McAllister
Edubray Ramos
Jordan Sheffield
Edwin Uceta
Tyler Gilbert

Catchers:
Rocky Gale
Jose Lobaton

Infield:
Jacob Amaya
Omar Estevez
Cristian Santana
Tyler White

Outfield:
Anthony Garcia
Connor Joe
Jeren Kendall
Zach Reks
Cody Thomas

Many of the NRI players will be auditioning for other teams and some are just in case depth. But some (primarily if not exclusively pitchers) will be auditioning for a potential roster spot during the summer. Names to monitor during ST include de Geus, Gray, Kasowski, Sheffield, Gilbert. Tyler White will certainly get a look as a position player. Perhaps DJ Peters.

Pitching seems to get the most scrutiny, and I certainly understand that. Pitching wins championships. But there are a lot of questions that need to be addressed during ST; not just about pitching.

1. Last year their were questions about the impact of RVS, Brant Brown, and Aaron Bates with the team batting. It sure appears that year one was a smashing success. Will that continue for 2020?
2. This year the pitching gets a makeover with Mark Prior and Connor McGuiness as the pitching coaches, and the organizational tutelage of Driveline’s Rob Hill. Hill will not be a game day coach but will create a consistent program for each of the pitching coaches to administer throughout the organization.
3. Josh Bard who was a very successful bullpen coach for the Dodgers in 2016 and 2017 before he left to be the bench coach for NYY’s Aaron Boone. He is returning to LAD as the bullpen coach again for 2020. KJ for one is extremely excited to get Bard back as he had his two best seasons while Bard was the bullpen coach. Can Bard be a difference maker for KJ?
4. Will the Driveline boys (KJ, Clayton, Wood…) be resurrected this year? All three are reporting great reviews about their off season training including the Driveline changes, and their bullpen sessions thus far. It is easy to say that they should not be counted on, but the same mechanical changes that Justin Verlander incorporated once he hit Houston rejuvenated his career are those espoused by Rob Hill. They can work for Verlander but not for the Dodger trio? I choose to believe all three will have very good 2020 seasons.
5. Will Joe Kelly be used as a one inning max reliever? That is when he is most effective?
6. Which of the LHRP’s will emerge: Scott Alexander, Adam Kolarek, Caleb Ferguson, or Victor Gonzalez? Or will it be one of the NRI pitchers to emerge: Reymin Guduan and Tyler Gilbert? My two favorites will remain Caleb Ferguson and my Trojan brother Tyler Gilbert.
7. Will Adam Kolarek learn how to get RHH out?
8. Will Blake Treinen be the 2018 version or 2019 version?
9. Will Strip continue to be bounced between SP and RP? It is not an easy position. But my guess is that he will start around 10 games during the year, but be used primarily in relief.
10. When will Dustin May be recalled? I have to assume that he will start out the season in OKC and be on the first flight when a pitcher is needed.
11. Will Tony Gonsolin go to OKC to start or stay with LAD and relieve? I am guessing that he will go to OKC to start but be a phone call away (as is May).
12. Will Josh Sborz or Jordan Sheffield make a move this year or will they be forever included in the Joe Broussard category?
13. When will Brusdar Graterol pitch for LAD? Will he go down to AZ extended spring or OKC to stretch out to make sure that shoulder is fine? He could be the bullpen difference maker down the stretch.
14. Will Dennis Santana prove some of us right by becoming a lock down late inning high leverage reliever? The starting option is for all accounts in the past.
15. Who is the real Mitchell White? Is he going to be the one that has the ability but cannot perform on the big stage?
16. Will Marshall Kasowski find a second pitch?
17. Will Jimmy Nelson recover to become the 2020 version of Brandon Morrow? That appears to be where he is headed.
18. Will Corey Seager remind of us once again that he is one of the top 2-3 SS in all of MLB? This is the first ST that he will be healthy since…ever?
19. Will AJ Pollock and Joc Pederson be able to co-exist in LF? What will happen to the AB’s for CT3 and Kike’? This potentially could become a large problem for AF and Doc, and I would not be surprised to see someone moved before the season starts.
20. Will Will Smith have a Sophomore slump, or will he continue to hit well? His defense, arm, and control of the pitchers is not questioned. Will Austin Barnes remember how to hit? He goes back to the backup role where he did excel. I am hopeful that 2019 was a lost and forgetful year, but if not, will Keibert Ruiz be ready, or will LAD have to rely on Rocky Gale or Jose Lobaton?
21. Will Doc allow Gavin Lux to settle in at 2B as a full-time regular or will he mess with his head and platoon him with CT3 or Kike’? I am hopeful that Doc has learned to let these kids learn and adjust on the job. There is nothing to gain by platooning Lux. Let him play as he did Seager (and Joc in the beginning).
22. Will Max justify the three year contract and prove he belongs as the #2 ranked 1B as he was by MLB? How many games in AZ before Max tells MadBum to go get the ball out of the pool this year?
23. How many games will JT play this year? Who will be his primary backup? Hopefully Doc can find one single backup during ST.
24. Will DJ Peters emerge as a legit RHH OF ready for 2021? I see him getting a cameo shot this year, but looking at the OF depth and the lack of any realistic OF prospect on the NRI list, DJ may be the last best hope for several years. Maybe until Luis Rodriguez is ready.
25. Will Zach McKinstry show enough that he can replace Kike’ next year and CT3 the year after?
26. Will Jacob Amaya show why he is so well thought of, and why the loss of Jeter Downs will not be as painful as many think? I am going with yes, but I have been an advocate for Jacob since the day he was drafted. Better defense without the power. Will Omar Estevez emerge as a legit utility option? He is a double machine. I can see Estevez and McKinstry become the utility players if the Dodgers do not re-sign Kike’ and CT3 (after 2021).
27. Who am I most excited to see this ST? I picked Brett de Geus as my MiLB dark horse last year, so I am not getting off the de Geus train. I will be very anxious to see how he pitches against some of the top hitters in MLB. My #2 will be Tyler Gilbert. As a lefty he has a chance to make a case for himself.
28. Will Belli and Mookie go from ST to All Star starters to WS champions? I am going with a resounding yes.

Let’s get this juggernaut rolling. Play Ball!!!