The Thot Plickens
We learned a lot about Tyler Glasnow yesterday and why he is unquestionably now the Dodgers’ Ace. Lest we forget, he has had a singular injury problem, not plural problems. He has had just one injury that was undiagnosed for four years. It was fixed and he now looks healthy as a…
We learned a lot about Tyler Glasnow yesterday and why he is unquestionably now the Dodgers’ Ace. Lest we forget, he has had a singular injury problem, not plural problems. He has had just one injury that was undiagnosed for four years. It was fixed and he now looks healthy as a horse! Actually, he is horse – just check out his mane. Tyler is now the Dodgers’ Ace. End of story. As it stands, this is now the Dodgers rotation:
- Glasnow
- Yamamoto
- Miller
- Paxton
- Stone
- Yarbrough (when needed)
However, there is a problem. Buehler and Kershaw will allegedly be back and where do they fit? What a great problem to have. Here’s what is really interesting: Other than Bobby Miller, not one of the Top Six starters were in the rotation at the end of last season. What a difference a few months makes. Now, it’s easy to surmise that James Paxton comes out of the gate and pitches outta’ his mind and then blows something out. Here comes Buehler and Kershaw to the rescue.
Keystone Props
Mookie Betts is the Dodgers shortstop and I do not think for one minute that he will be there at the end of the season. Gavin Lux needs a change of positions and teams. I like his bat, but the YIPS are horrid for him and everyone else. It’s not rust. It’s the damn YIPS! Willy Adames is a possibility and you can list every bad stat about him, but he is a better option than Miguel Rojas. Mookie need to be at 2B. The move to SS is just to buy time. Gavin Lux is gone.
I am going to purpose a better solution: The Dodgers trade Gavin Lux, Miguel Rojas, Alex Vesia, Landon Knack, and maybe (if needed) Miguel Vargas to the Cincinnati Reds for Matt McLain. It’s an Overpay because McLain is good. Very good. The Reds would like to move Elly De La Cruz to SS and this opens up the way. I would rather not include Vargas in the deal, but I would. Oh, and then the Dodgers re-sign Justin Wilson to a MLB Contract to take Vesia’s place.
Teoscar is Quietly Becoming a Beast
What would you say if I predicted that Teoscar Hernandez will be in the Top Ten in the MVP Voting? If you look at his Spring Stats, you can’t argue, but Spring Training is not the end-all, be-all. I believe that this is a guy who is going to respond to his surroundings. Robert Van Socyoc and company have his undivided attention and I see him as a player who will hit .280 with a .870 OPS with 35 HR and 110 RBI. Does that sound like a Top 10 MVP? It does to me. Then don’t forget Max Muncy and Will Smith. Also, if James Outman can build upon 2023, LOOK OUT!
Lineup:
- Betts 2B
- Ohtani DH
- Freeman 1B
- Hernandez LF
- Muncy 3B
- Smith C
- Outman/Hernandez CF
- McClain SS
- Heyward/Taylor RF
Holy Mackrel!
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Discussion (67)
Disagree, not disagreeable
Shout out to Dylan Campbell for that catch. Houston Strake Jesuit and University of Texas representing!
I was thinking Lux needs to spend some time in OKC but now I’m thinking Rancho would be better. Just play Rojas at SS and let’s move on to the season. It’s not rocket science.
Glasnow is definitely our ace. Imagine if Buehler comes back healthy. All of a sudden there is an embarrassment of riches in the rotation. Hard to believe after that brief playoff “run” last season.
Update above!
All guess work at this point. Lux will be your starting second baseman come next week. How long he stays there depends on how well he plays. He could be a disaster, or he could improve enough to stay there. Trading for anyone at this point is a knee jerk reaction, and unnecessary. Adames would be nothing more than a rental, and his defensive starts are not nearly as good as Rojas, who also has a higher career BA than Adames, and strikes out a whole hell of a lot less. No, he does not have Adames’s power, but he is a positive influence in the clubhouse and why trade for a player and upset what is a really good clubhouse culture? There is not a single SS on the White Sox I would trade for. They have Paul DeJong, who has been with three teams in the last two years, Nicky Lopez, who is nothing more than a journeyman, and Danny Mendick. Lopez right now is penciled in at second with no back up listed on their depth chart. As for Cease, the White Sox are talking with Texas about him. Texas needs a starter. Depending on what happens with Cole’s MRI, the Yankees are thin at the position and are talking with the Sox also. White Sox showing interest in Michael Lorenzen. I am not for spending prospect capital on a rental like Adames. If the Dodgers make any trades at all, they will come at the deadline, not during spring training. They will know what they have by then. LA has made one major trade in spring in the AF era, when they sent Pollock to the White Sox for Kimbrel.
Look around at other teams who has a shortstop or second baseman that can hit and field. It has to be Addames or maybe the White Sox that have some infielders they also have Cease. Think those would be the two teams the Dodgers should look at for trades.
Your line-up would be truly “holy mackrel” if Pages progresses enough to be called up by mid-season and bat 9th.
Glasnow possesses some of the most dominant stuff in the league. Been a fan of his for a while. He’s one of those rare pitchers that can dominate even the best lineups out there. He can be special. As we know, his knock has been his inability to remain on the field.
In terms of Teoscar, he has shown stretches like this in the past. Just as you start to believe he is ready to take his game to another level, he’ll go into a slump and leave you wondering how someone with his talent can be so inconsistent. When he’s bad, he can look lost at the plate. Hope he’s ready to turn the corner though.
As to Lux, I have developed a bit of a soft spot for the kid. Hoping the young man can regain his confidence and have a productive career with the Dodgers. Let’s go Gavin!
Lux, knack, feduccia, Ramos for McLain. Then the Reds could send a package to the white Sox for Cease.
Rojas, Knack, Vesia, Vargas, Cartaya for a top of the rotation or number 2 type starting pitcher.
Pitching wins championships.
The Reds don’t need Lux or Rojas. They are flush with middle infielders. Mb moving India to first. They did lose one to an 80 game suspension. Mb a 3 team trade would work. I’m sure they would want Knack. McClain would be nice but can’t c that trade.