What to Expect Next

Well, if you never expected the Dodgers to trade for Manny, like me, then how in the heck do we know what to expect next? Just when you think you have FAZ figured out…. BOOM!  You don’t!  Roger Askew said it best:

Still going to go on record that with the Machado trade, FAZ is signaling that they are all in for this year, DO NOT underestimate FAZ and their ability to make chicken salad out of chicken sh&%%t. They are not done. Unfortunately the next couple of moves might be the existing guys on the roster to upgrade the bullpen in a big way. Some of my favorite players might be on the move, but as Uncle Ned says, some of the best trades are ones that sting both sides. I can handle that.

It’s really funny to me that the FAZ-Bashers have very little to say about the Manny Machado acquisition.  Well, some say they gave up too much… Yawn! Yes they gave up a lot, but they have a lot of those types of players because of their immense depth.  Oh, they also don’t believe the Dodgers have “depth.” FAZ took a few players, maybe one who could be a star, and turned that into a “superstar” and they only gave up one top prospect.  I hope all the players the Dodgers traded make it big.  And, after the Dodgers go get Manny, you have people writing stuff like this:

My main issue with Friedman and the moneyball game is their lack of respect for pitching in general, specifically starting pitching. Simply put the front office just doesn’t value pitching at all continuing to sign injury riddled pitchers or castoff relievers.

Wow!  Are you kidding me?  I thought the guy who wrote it was smarter than that.  The Dodgers are #3 in MLB in team ERA and #2 in Starter ERA. Last year, they were #1 in Starter ERA. In 2017, they were #4 in bullpen ERA and this year they are currently #13, which is why they will do something to strengthen the bullpen, if possible. Also, show me any pitching staff and I’ll show you “injury-riddled,” except the Astros (more about that later).

The Astros are #1 in Starting pitching… so far! Houston has only used 5 starters this year.  They are almost all on track for over 200 IP.  How do you think that is going to end up?  Do you think that will carry on all year? You heard it here first:  they will not keep up that incredible pace, because they have some “injury riddled” pitchers on their team too. They have been very lucky… so far, but it’s how you end up that counts.

On the other side of the coin, the Dodgers have used 11 starters this year and not one has pitched as many innings as the Astros #5 starter.  Like it or not, baseball is changing and not many pitchers are going to pitch 7-8 innings, but here’s the upshot:  Come October, the Dodgers staff will be fresh.  Can other teams say the same thing?

More Trades

Roger Askew said it, he meant it and he’s here to represent it! I also think that FAZ will acquire another reliever or two, but if Urias and Ryu  come back (and there is every indicxation they are), another bullpen arm may be redundant. Wood and Maeda in the pen would be awesome, but one (or both) may balk at it.  That’s why I think Wood or Maeda could be traded.  So could Yasiel Puig, Joc Pederson, Pedro Baez, Andrew Toles, Logan Forsythe and/or Chris Taylor.  They all won’t be traded but two or three could.

Andrew Toles, Alex Verdugo and Joc Pederson are three very different players, but all are LH  and two of them may be redundant… at least one is, but Verdugo is not going to be traded. One… or both of the others could.  Alex Wood won’t want to go to the bullpen because it can potentially cost him $10’s of millions of dollars. I like Alex and I don’t blame him, so he could get traded.  So, could Puig and Taylor.  Logan Forsythe is a given, but depending upon who gets traded, he might be needed.  Everyone think Charlie Culberson was so great, but did he get more than two hits last year?  It’s still how you finish.

If another team needs a shortstop or CF, Chris Taylor could be the man… and he would bring a nice haul.  If you think that soulds crazy, look at this lineup without CT3:

1. Verdugo  RF – (L)
2. Turner 3B – (R)
3. Muncy  1B  (L)
4. Manny  SS – (R)
5. Bellinger CF – (L)
6. Kemp  LF  – (R)
7. Grandal  C – (L/R)
8. Kike  2B (R)

I love a L-R-L-R matchup all through the lineup. Verdugo gets on and the rest of the lineup are 20+ HR hitters. Now, I like CT3 a lot and think he will return to last years’ form, so trading him is unlikely, but the point is: you have to “match up” with other teams in trades. You just can’t say “Trade Puig to the Marlins.” You can’t impose your will on the Marlins.  What do they want?  What players do they value? You have to matchup with the teams needs.  I am sure the Orioles started by asking for Buehler and Verdugo… everyone does, but the Dodgers were about to match their needs with sheer depth.  If the Dodgers are going to match up with another team or teams for a reliever, they are going to have to be flexible with what they are willing to do and who they are willing to trade.  One team may value CT3 over Puig or one may want Joc or Toles or maybe they just want prospects.  The thing is:  the Dodgers depth gives them a lot of options.  Stay tuned!  There’s more to come.

Manny in 2019 and Beyond

The same people who didn’t believe they would trade for Manny Machado are now saying they won’t sign him long term.  Here is what they do not understand:  FAZ has never had the opportunity to sign a 26-year old Superstar.  The deals they did not make were with players who were in their early 30’s, which is why they have no interest in DeGrom. I think the Dodgers will try and sign Manny long-term, regardless of what happens this season. But, FAZ is going for it this season, they will keep under the luxury tax, so that is an issue… but it’s not an  insurmountable issue. I think the odds of Manny being a Dodger for the next ten years are very good.

The Dodgers Didn’t Come This Far, Just to Come This Far!

Forget about trading Matt Kemp – he will be in LF another year!

I am headed to Milwaukee on Saturday to see Manny “up close and personal.”  We have seats 8-rows behind the Dodger dugout.