There is No Status Quo

We still have no clue what will happen this offseason, even though the rumors are rampant, and we still don’t know what the Dodgers will look like in 2019.  One thing I think is certain: They will look different than in 2018… the only question is HOW DIFFERENT?  Some of you will be disappointed if Andrew Friedman doesn’t sign Byrce Harper or trade for Corey Kluber.  Others will be disappointed if they don’t trade Puig and Kemp, but in reality, the only way you can trade Matt is take back a bad contract, and you never know how that will pan out.  Matt Kemp loves being a Dodger and could be even more motivated than last year to get a  new contract.  He says he wants to play 3 more years.

So, let Kemp and Pederson platoon in LF – you could do a lot worse than that. The two should yield 30-40 HR again.  Yes, Matt is an overpay, but he is beloved by his teammates and is a great guy to have on the team.  The Dodgers know what they have and I would be surprised if Matt Kemp is not on the 2019 Opening Day roster (barring injury).

I said early in the offseason that the Dodgers don’t need much.  They have a young team with some vets mixed in and have been to two consecutive World Series. They are among the favorites to get back there.  Of course, Friedman is “in on” Harper.  He has to drive the price up, but I do not believe Bryce Harper will wear Dodger Blue… unless he is bound and determined to be a Dodger and is willing to take less money.  That’s the deal.  I don’t see Kluber either and a Realmuto deal should not include Ruiz, Verdugo or Lux.  So, that is looking more unlikely.

When the Dodgers traded for Jimmy Rollins, I wrote that it was a mistake as Seager was ready… and he was.  In 2017, I told you Bellinger was ready.  Buehler in 2018 and now for 2019, I am telling you Verdugo, Lux and Ruiz are also ready…. at least by Mid-Season.  Write it down.  I said it.  I meant it and I’m here to represent it!  Verdugo is the most ready, but Ruiz is growing by leaps and bounds – physically, mentally and skillfully.  His footwork has dramatically improved and he is a quick learner.  Baseball is his gift.  Lux is also close and Verdugo, Lux and Ruiz will likely all benefit from the Dodgers new hitting program led by Robert Van Scoyoc (RVS).

I have tried to trade Puig every year… although I must admit I like the knucklehead, but now is the time to keep him.  He is going into his final season on this contract and should be motivated to listen to RVS and company.  He could have a very good year and then the Dodgers will give him the QO and he will turn it down…. ANOTHER PICK!

Right about now, the two players I can see traded are Stewart, Toles and Wood.  The Dodgers need to improve internally, not by trading for “different” pieces.  I am fine with what they have now… although it is fun to speculate.   If nothing else happens, at least they did not make any dope-fiend moves… and there worse things than bringing Yasmani Grandal back on a 1 year/$9 million deal.

Other News

The Athletic has another piece on hitting today.  In part Peter Gammons writes:

Hyers and hitting guru Robert Van Scoyoc had a major influence on Martinez and several others. Their concepts included being “on plane” with the ball rather than simply trying to create launch angle. They preach “following the ball” after contact, lessening effort in the swing, making adjustments for the opposing pitcher and the situation. “Correctly implemented, launch angle and exit velocity are important,” one general manager says, “but in the end, runs created decide games. The notion that RBIs are not important is silly. Sure, season totals of RBIs include a lot of variables, but when games are there to be won, RBIs count.”

For an oft-used example, in the third game of the ALCS in Houston, the Red Sox faced Dallas Keuchel. They had a clear idea of how the Cy Young Award winner would pitch them. Betts made like Pete Rose and knocked a single through the middle. Andrew Benintendi knew a ball down and away was coming and slapped it just over Alex Bregman’s head down the left field line. The cleanup hitter Martinez knew Keuchel would do a Tom Glavine and offer up a changeup down and off the outside corner, and Martinez dumped the ball over first down the right-field line. The Red Sox were up two runs in four batters before the Astros even got up in their home park.

So we go back to the first and foremost scientist of hitting: Ted Williams. He preached adjusting with two outs “because two-out runs are such a huge part of the game.” Enter what he called the “push swing.”

For an oft-used example, in the third game of the ALCS in Houston, the Red Sox faced Dallas Keuchel. They had a clear idea of how the Cy Young Award winner would pitch them. Betts made like Pete Rose and knocked a single through the middle. Andrew Benintendi knew a ball down and away was coming and slapped it just over Alex Bregman’s head down the left field line. The cleanup hitter Martinez knew Keuchel would do a Tom Glavine and offer up a changeup down and off the outside corner, and Martinez dumped the ball over first down the right-field line. The Red Sox were up two runs in four batters before the Astros even got up in their home park.

So we go back to the first and foremost scientist of hitting: Ted Williams. He preached adjusting with two outs “because two-out runs are such a huge part of the game.” Enter what he called the “push swing.”

Here’s the part that should give Dodger fans a lot of hope:

Enter Van Scoyoc, Brant Brown and Aaron Bates as the Dodgers’ new hitting coaching and preparatory staff. “Our approach was not very good,” says one Dodger official. “The players were taught through the system to try to launch on every pitch. It just doesn’t work against good pitching. Justin Turner (another Van Scoyoc guy) is fine. But look at our postseason.”

Gammons ended with:

There is no reason Joey Gallo needs to strike out 207 times in 500 at-bats, or Chris Taylor 178 in 536 at-bats. They’re too good. And in Taylor’s case, a team that has made it to the World Series the last two years shouldn’t essentially have as many games when they score three or fewer runs as the Rays.

You should get a subscription to The Athletic.  Next to LAdodgerTalk.com, it has the best writing in the business.  😉