I refuse to talk about last night’s game. I have some thoughts, but this isn’t the right time. I have plenty to say, but this isn’t the time to say it. Hope still springs eternal… until it doesn’t. I have not reached that point…
Some Dodger fans have had their attention grabbed by Kendall George and his 101 stolen bases. By the way, he has been caught 24 times. If 101 stolen bases sounds like a lot… It’s not. Billy Hamilton once stole 155 bases in the minors. Kendall George will be 21 next month and is a left-handed batter, as you can imagine. He is 5′ 9″ tall and 170 pounds (soaking wet). In nearly 900 minor league at-bats, he has four home runs. His speed is his ONLY asset. He hit .297 at Rancho Cucamonga in 2024 and is hitting .295 at Great Lakes this year. Baseball America says this about him:
“The centerpiece of George’s game is his blazing speed, which grades as the best in the system and plays both on the bases and in center field. Scouts peg George’s defense as a potentially plus tool thanks to outstanding range to all sectors and the quickness to make up for any inefficiencies in his route-running. Scouts also noted a tendency for George to get to balls easily before losing concentration and whiffing on the potential catch. At the plate, he can turn virtually any grounder into a potential infield hit. Even so, the Dodgers would like him to make his approach more selective. Instead of simply making contact, they’d prefer that he hit line drives over infielders’ heads and into alleyways. He has well below-average power, and his slugging percentage will likely be buoyed by any extra bases gained with his legs. He could also stand to tighten his technique on the bases considering his 12 times caught stealing were the most in the California League.“
— Baseball America
Here’s some video of him when he stole six bases in one game:
He is an interesting player, but I have the following Dodger Minor League Outfielders AHEAD of him:
- Josue DePaula
- Zhyir Hope
- Mike Sirota
- Eduardo Quintero
- Brenden Tunink
- Ching-Hsien Ko
- Jamkes Tibbs
Kendall George can’t steal first, and I see him as a 4th or 5th outfielder (at best). He should play in the majors, but I do not see him as a starter.
Discussion (15)
Disagree, not disagreeable
My next piece will be explosive…
Gavin Lux would have been much better in LF than Conforto. That is for sure, though, defensively, they are the same guy. The Dodgers traded Lux to get Sirota, who I believe will be a very good Centerfielder… maybe an occasional All-Star. They mitigated Lux’s loss with the Conforto Signing, and I think there was a reasonable expectation that Conforto would turn his career around. Lux is a platoon player for the Reds and would have been for the Dodgers as well.
Lux is hitting .276 with a .738 OPS and his OPS+ is 100, so Gavin has been precisely “league average” this year. For his career, Lux has a 96 OPS+ while Conforto has a career OPS+ of 116. It did not work out, but in a year or two, I think Mike Sirota will make us forget Gavin Lux.
I believe this will draw a strong response from my friend Mark and Brian will pile on but here goes. Whether the trade of Gavin Lux was a good trade will be determined in the future. In my long time of coaching when a player comes off a major injury it seems in my experience that the player is either finished or it takes a year after the injury for the player to return to form. When the player is young the following year is even better. I admit I was a Lux fan and wish he was playing second base for the Dodgers right now. At the time of the trade and even more today the Dodgers have an abundance of outfield prospects. I hope I’m wrong and Sirota turns out to be an all star. Be gentle Mark, just my thoughts.
I was lucky enough to watch the Loons play live this season. It was an away game for the Loons. As soon as George was on deck there was a different feel in the stands and when he reached base the park was engaged on watching him. I agree he gets caught to much but a lot of those is when he gets picked off. I think with experience he will improve on that stat. I would love to have the Dodgers bring him up for the playoffs.He could be a weapon. The whole time I watch him I was thing Brett Butler. George can bunt. Now they need to teach how to slap the ball over the third baseman.
The personality of this team and the depth of the lineup will change dramatically with addition of Tommy, Max, Kim and the subtraction of Conforto.
The one factor that would help that I am not sure would happen is getting the clutch bat that we had last year in Teo Hernandez.
But who knows if he will rise to the occasion when everything is on the line.
I am still hopeful and somewhat confident that we will play well in October.
R.I.P. Davey Johnson. Dead at 82!
College football & UFC
There is no “switch” that they can suddenly flip and play good baseball. It doesn’t work like that. If it did, does that mean that for the last 2 months they aren’t trying? i don’t believe that for a minute. This is just who they are right now
be patient everyone! the dodgers are due a offensive breakout today!! 3 runs ! an explosion! it’s coming! Seriously, this can’t continue , can it? Hell, put Deane in the lineup, maybe he can bunt! Do we know if Alex Call will hit if he plays everyday? we do know that Conforto can’t! Call has more speed and looks better on defense! oh well , my bitching rant for saturday! We ain’t cooked yet! go blue!
I always thought that the Dodgers could just flip the switch and run away with the division at the end of the season, but after watching and listening to Freddie’s interview after last nights game that’s just not the case this year. Still believe there’s more in there but injuries lately are making it awfully difficult! Just need Max, Will, Tommy and one break to turn this around. Go Dodgers⚾
Back to my point, I hope that management uses some of those secondary resources to improve the team.
Looks like there’s a consensus that we have a multitude of excellent outfielders in the minors, to go with our pitching. I know it’s old school but guys like Ozzie and Juan and Ma
ury have caused havoc on the base pass for years and you can’t deny what Thomas, McCarthy and the other speedsters are doing for the Snakes. Want an example, look at the SB and passed ball last night and how speed was a factor. Sorry Mark for referencing last night. My point is we had plenty of potential outfielders on the farm and I am a fan of bringing some of that speed to the team when they are ready.
Back to my piin
I could see the Dodgers bringing back Barnes… but I’d rather see what Chuckie Robinson can do until Will the Thrill gets back.
Kendall George, it all depends on his ability to get on base with some consistency. If a walk is a good as a hit with most players, it might be as good as a double for George. His baserunning exploits should make him more attractive on the trade market.
With most teams, George could be a leadoff hitter. It’s worth remembering that new rules regarding limited pick offs and slightly bigger bases encourage the running game. (George is often compared to Juan Pierre, which in our power-obsessed age seems like a backhanded compliment… until you remember that Pierre had a long career, amassed over 2,000 hits and ranks among the game’s best base stealers.)
To the list of promising OF prospects I think we should add draftee Charles Davalan, whose collegiate numbers compare well with what Hope, De Paula and Sirota have been doing in the minors. From what I’ve read, Davalan is a speedy bat-first outfielder who has great bat-to-ball skills, a good eye and limited power. Davalan was acquired in the draft pick the Dodgers got along with Sirota for Lux.
Do any of you think Barnes could be a good option? As far as I remember, he’s a free agent again.
Although so much inactive time would be a disadvantage for him
I think the Padres signed Martin Maldonado, who I would have liked to have on the Dodgers as a backup.
That’s what I was thinking, it’s a shame that base stealing isn’t a weapon for the Dodgers, so his speed would be practically useless.