Next Week or Sooner
It s fun to sit around and play GM at times. We can make trades without compunction for Matt Kemp, Marcel Ozuna and about any other player on the planet. In reality, almost none of those trades ever happen. I probably suggest more trades than anyone and I cannot remember a single one that was ever made. I guarantee you that Farhan Zaidi and Andrew Friedman have been working the phones
It’s fun to sit around and play GM at times. We can make trades without compunction for Matt Kemp, Marcel Ozuna and about any other player on the planet. In reality, almost none of those trades ever happen. I probably suggest more trades than anyone and I cannot remember a single one that was ever made. I guarantee you that Farhan Zaidi and Andrew Friedman have been working the phones all season and know of any potential candidates available for trade – probably some we would never think of and some that we think are available who are not! The problem is, most of our trade proposals are “knee-jerk reactions.” Sometimes the best move is NO MOVE.
We look at Matt Kemp’s batting average and salivate, but we forget what a clubhouse cancer he was in both San Diego and Los Angeles. In LA, Kemp was moody, moping, euphoric or unapproachable, depending upon what was happening with Rihanna. Maybe he has matured (Andre did and he was once that way), but there might be a clubhouse revolt if Kemp came back. I speak from experience about this as this was back in the day when I was spending a lot of time around the team. Seven years ago, I spent a 4-game road trip with the team is Chicago with a Press Pass and full clubhouse access (back then the visitors’ clubhouse was a dump). The clubhouse tension was palpable with both Kemp and Ethier being prima donnas. Everyone was on eggs shells.
I say NO to Matt Kemp, but I would not be opposed to acquiring him. However, the Dodgers have moved on. He has moved on. Everyone has moved on, plus his defense is horrid… no it’s worse than that! Here’s EXACTLY what the Dodgers need: They need for Logan Forsythe and Adrian Gonzalez to get healthy. Scott Van Slyke is not long for LA. After A-Gon went 3-4 last night at Rancho, he is apt to get called up as soon as TODAY or TOMORROW! Forsythe is not far behind. Taylor or Forsythe need to go to LF. Forsythe has a bout 20 games experience there, but I am sure Taylore can play it too. That’s one for Doc to figure out.
Adrian is no longer the “butter and egg man” but he can can be a very productive hitter, especially if he is at #5 or #6. I prefer him at #6 as the Dodger’s lineup has generally been unproductive in that area. I think A-Gon can hit 12-15 HR and drive in 80 in the #6 hole and that would be big! Puig and Pederson can’t hit lefties, but Puig is RH so do you reverse platoon him. In RF, I think Bellinger is better as a hitter and while he is not the equal of Puig on defense, I believe he is a better option in RF. Where does that leave Puig? Trade bait, in my opinion. Get me another stud reliever!
How does this look?
- Taylor LF (R)
- Seager SS (L)
- Turner 3B (R)
- Bellinger RF (L)
- Forsythe 2B (R)
- Gonzo 1B (L)
- Grandal/Barnes C (L/R)
- Pederson CF (L)
Doc is just going to see how the seven starters shake out. Today will give us a big clue. Someone has to go and if Ryu can pitch well, he might be the guy. He has a team-friendly contract and if healthy, can be a nice back-of-the-rotation starter. Wood, Hill, Urias and Kershaw are locks. You have to pick one between McCarthy, Ryu and Maeda. What a great problem to have! Puig, McCarthy, Hernandez, Thompson, Ryu, Van Slyke and Maeda could all be trade possibilities. Like AC said, Miami is a perfect place for Puig. How about Thomas Jones or Brian Anderson for him?
Rants and Raves
- In my opinion, Yadier Alvarez is maybe a closer. I do not see him as a starter. Just my opinion. He throws 100 MPH… so…..
- Joc Pederson looks lost to me. I like AC’s idea of Lorenzo Cain as a one year rental. Rios and another?
- It was great to see Clayton get a better handle on his slider… he’s almost there!
- Could Walker Buehler end the season in the Dodgers bullpen?
More from Dodger Talk
Dodgers Food Trailer
I did this interview a couple of weeks ago with Chef Mike, who runs the Dodgers Food Trailer for the Great Lakes Loons. They are there for every home and road regular season and playoff game. They prepare three meals a day for approximately 50 people (players and coaches). Since games end late most evenings, they do not prepare breakfast. Many of their hotels have a complimentary breakfast anyway. However,…
Meet LAD 2026 Draft Picks 1-12
3 picks were High School players (2 SS and 1 OF). There was a college OF, college catcher, college SS, and 10 college pitchers. Of all the talk for a need for a catcher, the only catcher the Dodgers selected was Luke Bard, son of LAD bullpen coach Josh Bard. Bard was a 4th year senior from Houston Christian University. He is not a prospect, so the Dodgers are still…
Interview with Paul Beachy – Team Bus Driver For The Great Lakes Loons (LA Dodgers Minor League Team)
It’s been a few days since I did this interview. We have evidently been working my son-in-law (the video guy) like a rented mule at US Water Systems. However, I am taking him to London with me in a few days, so maybe Watford will buy him a pint as a tip, but he’s a dang Red Sox fan, so there is that! I thought that it would be interesting…
Thanks for Your Service: Chris Taylor
I was going to do this post when Chris announced he was retiring, then he changed his mind, but since the chances of him ever playing for the Dodgers again are slim and non-existent, I will go ahead with this post. He unretired, went on the IL, then decided to call it quits on May 24th. Taylor was born in Virginia Beach VA on August 29th, 1990. He attended Great…
Discussion (55)
Disagree, not disagreeable
Mark
When you said earlier this week we have a thumper coming back, I was going to ask you, who you were talking about.
But you are right, a healthy Agone is a better hitter, then a lot of players, in this line up.
And he will be a great teacher, for Bellinger.
It doesn’t look like Joc and Puig learned anything from Agone’s example, when it comes to hitting runs in, but I bet Bellinger will take note.
I hated when Toles got hurt, but now there is a place in the line up, for both Agone and Bellinger to play, and exist, with one another.
And when we need a tough RBI there is no hitter better then Agone, in our line up.
The Logan, Taylor, problem will work out too.
I hope Ryu can pitch well tonight for the team, and himself.
He was once a very good pitcher and he takes a lot of pride in trying to get the job done, so I hope he can.
The starting pitcher thing will work out too, and there won’t have to be necessarily any big moves, to work this out.
It is still early, but pitchers have the highest percentage of attrition, in baseball.
I would argue that we will go as fast as our hitting will take us. I have confidence we have, with a few bullpen tweaks, the pitching to take us all the way. My concern is whether we have the hitting to score the runs to win.
–
A healthy Gonzalez and Forsyth will help. Can Taylor play an adequate CF? Would time in OKC help Joc find himself? He looks lost right now.
Important point to remember; none of us have a blemish worth (on FAZ’s behind) of baseball knowledge compared to the guys actually running the show.
.
While it is easy to see the flaws in our team, and every team has them, and who looks good right now on other teams, we really have no idea what it would cost to acquire them. Kemp? Sure if the price is right, but it won’t be! Braves would look to bend us over, just like the Brewers must have with Braun. And Kemp must be a HUGE problem if the Padres would pay just to be rid of the guy.
.
I have resigned myself to enjoy the season, knowing if a “good” deal/value appears FAZ will be all over it. We are a very good team as currently constructed, a true Championship Caliber team. FAZ is going to be patient, stick to the long-term plan and see what we got. Yes, Gonzalez and Forsythe could be just what the Doctor ordered AND the price is right. Puig, although frustrating is leading the team in RBIs, from mainly the eighth spot, it could be worse. Pederson needs to platoon, so does Hernandez, Gutierrez and a couple other guys. A couple fringe guys need to be jettisoned , VanSlyke and Romo.
.
Something that tells me FAZ is doing their job, is the better internal options, depth, we have everywhere compared to last year. Stick to the plan and it will be even better next year. Get crazy, like the Lakers did with signing Mozgov and Deng and we will regret it. How would the Lakers look right now with the NUMBER 2 pick AND lots of money to spend this year or next?
.
The good news is the Dodgers will go as far as the PITCHING will take them and that could be a long way.