Julio Urias Wunderkind
In case you don t know, a Wunderkind is a child prodigy or one who succeeds in a competitive or highly difficult field or profession at an early age. That would be Julio Urias. I find it incredulous that Julio Urias pitched 77 innings in the major leagues in 2016 as a 19 year old and compiled a 5-2 record with a 84 strikeouts and a 3.39 ERA and yet some fans
In case you don’t know, a Wunderkind is “a child prodigy or one who succeeds in a competitive or highly difficult field or profession at an early age.” That would be Julio Urias. I find it incredulous that Julio Urias pitched 77 innings in the major leagues in 2016 as a 19 year old and compiled a 5-2 record with a 84 strikeouts and a 3.39 ERA and yet some fans suggest he needs another year at AAA. HELLO?
Then, they turn around and lament the trade of Jose De Leon who at the age of 24, in the same major league, pitched 17 innings with 15 strikeouts and 5 HR to go with a 6.35 ERA. He was five years older and could not hold a candle to Julio. I have pointed out that Clayton Kershaw in his first year, at age 20 pitched 107 innings with 109 hits and 100 strikeouts to go with a 4.26 ERA. The very next year, Clayton Kershaw broke out with a 2.79 ERA and 171 IP, 119 Hits and 185 K’s.
AND YET SOME THINK URIAS IS NOT ALL THAT? I’m not saying that people who say such stuff are dumb – they just have bad luck when it comes to thinking! Maybe they haven’t watched Julio pitch – yeah the cable company stole their signal and so they can claim insanity.
Here is a NEWS FLASH: Julio Urias is going to be very, very good… yes, in 2017! I will stop short of saying he will be better than Clayton Kershaw, but he is cut from the same cloth. Oh, sure – they are different pitchers, but Julio is going to be in the discussion as to who the best pitcher in baseball is shortly. Won’t it be cool that two are Dodgers?
Julio pitched 122 innings last year. He will push 200 this year. Farhan Zaidi said there are no pitch counts now. I think Julio will likely win 17 to 18 games in 2017, and God-forbid, if Clayton Kershaw were hurt, he might be the Dodgers Ace. I would look for him to go on the 10-day DL a couple of times next year, but he’s going to mostly be out there every 5th day, doing what he does – get batters out!
Actually, I think many teams, including the Dodgers will put pitchers on the 10-day DL this season to keep them fresh. Skip 2 starts and come back strong. I don’t know what the Dodger rotation will look like this year, because I have no clue if Ryu, McCarthy or Kazmir will be healthy. But, I do know that among De Leon, Alvarez, Buehler, Stewart and a couple of others, JDL was deemed the most expendable.
Enjoy watching “The Kid” this year. Kershaw is no longer The Kid – we’ve got a new kid on the block and he’s going to be damn good!
KID URIAS! Wunderkind!
UPDATE: Adrian Gonzalez and Andre Ethier – I have heard rumblings that the Dodgers would eat half of A-Gon’s and Andre’s salary if they can obtain a RH bat in a 3 or 4-way deal. Obviously A-Gon is from San Diego. Could he go back to end his career and what would SD be willing to give up to get him at $10 million a year for two more years? Cody Bellinger is very, very close! I do believe the Dodgers are shopping Ethier and Gonzalez – I just can’t see any takers unless they are packaged with younger prospects. I would not be surprised to see a blockbuster of epic proportions involving Gonzo, Ethier, Pederson, Puig and a few prospects. Those deals are generally 3 or 4-way deals and are very tricky. I’m not holding my breath.
UPDATE 2: Jose De Leon – I was just listening to Bill Plunkett of the OC Register and he said that the Dodgers did not regard Jose De Leon as a Top Prospect… and neither did the Twins, which was why the deal with them for Dozier did not happen. He also said that the Dodgers would not trade their other prospects in those deals. Bill Shaiken of The LA Times, says the same thing. Plunkett also thinks that Forsythe will be the primary leadoff hitter.
UPDATE 3: Ryu – He claims that he is in great shape and throwing without pain. Of course, he said the same thing last Spring. So, what we know is NOTHING!
UPDATE 4: Brett Eibner – Organizational Depth http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2017/01/athletics-trade-brett-eibner-dodgers.html
In case you wonder what the photos are, until Spring Training, I am running photos of Spring Training which I have taken from past Springs.
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Discussion (96)
Disagree, not disagreeable
I am wondering if the violence with which Urias pitches i.e. pitching technique has something to do with this extended spring training bull. If he pitches his way into the rotation at Glendale, he should get that 4th or 5th start that he deserves. He does need to get more efficient though, but his MLB experience should help in that regard. I am hoping he lights up the spring, and then the suits will have no real choice but to start him. We have too many starting pitchers, for sure. But each one comes with a price tag and injury history. The only one I want to keep is Wood because of his age and history of success with the Braves. Ryu may be a medical marvel. I want the name of his doctor to help with my shoulder. McCarthy can go elsewhere and tweet away, and Kazmir can go with him.
On Morrow: I’ve seen him pitch on TV a few times. Nice looking pitcher. The trouble is: he gets hit. I think he throws a straight fast ball. A little bit like Eovaldi, who throws 98, but is hittable. It’s hard to believe that major league hitters can catch up with 98, but they do. There has to be movement. Morrow doesn’t have it. Maybe for 3 outs he might be ok.
I like the Morrow signing. It costs us basically nothing to see if he can stay healthy. To me, he has the potential to be Wade Davis.
From Bill Plunkett of the OC Register:
Open on www.dailynews.comhttp://www.dailynews.com/sports/20170112/dodgers-pitching-shows-uncommon-depth-behind-kershawThey’re putting the band back together. Of the 15 pitchers who started at least one game for the Dodgers in 2016, 11 are expected back in training camp this spring. Hill re-signed as a free agent, joining Kershaw and Maeda to form the front three. A rotation spot awaits the precocious 20-year-old Urias. Beyond that, a rotating door will likely usher an assortment of starters into the rotation at various times. That uncommon depth should allow the Dodgers to absorb the likely limitations in starts and innings they’ll get from a number of starters — either planned (to limit the innings on young arms like Urias) or unplanned (to injury-prone veterans).
THE NEXT LAYER
Even after sending three young pitchers (Jharel Cotton, Frankie Montas and former first-round pick Grant Holmes) to Oakland for Hill and outfielder Josh Reddick in July, the Dodgers’ farm system is fat with pitching prospects. Urias, Stripling, Stewart and De Leon made their big-league debuts last season and figure to contribute this year. Behind them, another wave is building. Right-hander Trevor Oaks is the most likely to be seen in Los Angeles this year, but Walker Buehler and Yadier Alvarez are blue-chippers on the way. Buehler underwent Tommy John surgery almost immediately after being drafted in the first round in 2015 and is set for his first full pro season. Signed as a teenager out of Cuba that same summer, Alvarez spent last season hitting 100 mph in Class-A.
MOVES THEY COULD MAKE
With so much inventory, the Dodgers would gladly unload veterans McCarthy or Kazmir and get out from under the remainder of their contracts. But that appears unlikely at this point (unless one or the other is attached to prospects in a larger deal). De Leon has reportedly been offered to the Minnesota Twins in trade talks for second baseman Brian Dozier. Those talks were tabled when the Twins set their sights on Buehler and Alvarez (or young first baseman Cody Bellinger) as additions to the deal.
I agree Urias makes it look pretty easy. He still has lots to learn but won’t learn except in the Bigs. Concern re: stamina right now and he won’t pitch more than 160 innings this year at 20 with only 126 IP last year.
Morrow – seems like more of the old and infirm. Have you checked out his medical history? Here is from Dodgers Digest:
“Morrow has dealt with shoulder, forearm, elbow, hand, and oblique injuries in his career, limiting him to 120.2 innings from 2013-15 as a starter. In 2016, he gave up on the starting role, instead becoming a member of the Padres bullpen. Morrow showed flashes there, putting up a 1.69 ERA in 16 innings (with a 4.37 FIP and 5.26 DRA), but he only threw 16 innings due to lingering problems with shoulder surgery that ended his 2015.”
I compare all pitching deliveries to Greg Maddox’. Maddox threw like he was using a fork and knife. Not so Urias. The young pitchers all seem to throw at a max, falling off to the side. That’s probably a reason for TJ and shoulder problems. I hope the scouts are right.
The Dodgers are exploring the possibility of trading Corey Seager.
I’m just trying to stimulate come conversation with the biggest lie that I can think of!
Thanks Olive – I have a 2015 version and it is not there. Must have been added “afterward.” 😉
It’s there alright. I just have a hard time giving it credence in light of what Philly ended up getting – SVS? I could see De Leon, but here’s what I always heard (this from Jayson Stark):
[The Dodgers have] never been able to sell the Phillies on a package for Hamels that didn’t include someone like shortstop phenom Corey Seager or the Dodgers’ best pitching prospect, Julio Urias. We’ve heard rumblings that, if one of those two isn’t in the deal, the Phillies have asked for as many as six players back from the Dodgers’ 1-A prospect tier. And that ain’t happening, either.
However, Molly Knight seems very credible to me.
It sounds like Alex Wood was added to JDL for Dozier and when the Twins didn’t want Wood they had a deal with him going to Seattle for a prospect more to the Twins liking.
The latest book I am reading:
I just ordered it:
Thanks!