Who Should Be The Dodgers Catcher?
Lert me start all this by saying that I was TOTALLY in favor of the Dee Gordon trade. I thought Austin Barnes and Kike Hernandez would be very good players. FAZ parlayed Andrew Heaney into Howie Kendrick who played a nice role for the Dodgers a couple of years ago and even though Chris Hatcher was a bust as a Dodger, I would still do that trade in a New
Lert me start all this by saying that I was TOTALLY in favor of the Dee Gordon trade. I thought Austin Barnes and Kike Hernandez would be very good players. FAZ parlayed Andrew Heaney into Howie Kendrick who played a nice role for the Dodgers a couple of years ago and even though Chris Hatcher was a bust as a Dodger, I would still do that trade in a New York minute.
Kike Hernandez is two year younger than Austin and (some of you will make fun of me for saying this), but I think Kike will eventually hit 30 HR a season in this league. He has issues against RH pitching, but maybe that can be improved upon as he matures. He has excellent power and is younger than Chris Taylor. I think he will have a breakout year as soon as next year! However, I digress… Who should be the Dodgers Catcher?
Many of you think Austin Barnes should take Yasmani’s place and while we don’t lose a lot when Austin is the Catcher, you need to consider this:
-
When Barnes catches the Dodgers have a 3.75 ERA.
-
When Grandal catches the Dodgers have a 3.20. ERA. That’s a half run less a game!
-
Yasmani has thrown out 32% of baserunners who try and steal, while Austin only gets 20%.
-
Austin Barnes fielding PCT is .992. Yasmani’s is .995.
-
Grandal has 6 errors in twice as many innings as Barnes (4).
-
The only area Barnes is better is Passed Balls. Grandal has 15 while Barnes has only 3 in half as many innings.
However, Grandal is one of the TOP 3 Pitch Framers in the game and the dude does have 22 HR in what I consider a down year for him.
As long a pitch framing is a thing, Yasmani will be the primary catcher… unless his offensive production becomes a liability. The passed balls are the byproduct of moving his glove in framing. It pays off, however!
This year, the Dodgers have Logan Forsythe at 2B, but they could trade him or pay him $1 Million to walk and save $7.5 Million NEXT year. Logan Forsythe is a very good defensive 2B, but has been disappointing against RHP. Next year, I would move Austin Barnes to 2B – he’s a very good 2B as well and his arm would play better at 2B than behind the plate.
I think Austin Barnes is a .300 hitter if he plays every day. He is a very good, but not GREAT catcher. We need to enjoy this run of the 2017 Dodgers, because next year, the team will look very different. There are lots of directions te team could go, but Forsythe, Ethier and Granderson won’t be on the roster. Adrian may well be forced to retire with his back… or maybe the Dodgers could work out a personal services contract with him to be the face of the Dodgers as Tommy fades.
Talent wise, Alex Verdugo is in the same category as Seager and Bellinger (except for power). The mental aspect of his game is what will determine how good he becomes. He could very well be the 2018 Rookie of the Year. Right about now though, the Playoff Roster is Paramount. Look for a surprise… maybe two. Just say “NO” to El Gasolino!
The Dodgers now have 102 wins and are starting to get “White Hot” again. Maybe Doc’s strategy is working and they have flipped the switch. One more win and they set the all-time LA Dodger record for wins. One more win and they clinch home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. After Sunday, all they need are 11 more wins. Man, Rich Hill is pitching like Kershaw and Darvish and Alex Wood is not pleased with the possibility of going to the pen. I would not want him to be, but Just Bloom Where You Are Planted, Alex!
Photo Credit: Dodgers.com and MLB
It’s Go Time!
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 (89)
Disagree, not disagreeable
Since the first time I saw him, I’ve been concerned that Buehler’s fastball is as straight as an arrow. I need to see more movement before I’m convinced. Just hope he doesn’t turn out to be another Josh Ravin. He’s a lot younger, so there’s time.
Is it my imagination, or is Cory Bellinger trying too hard to hit #40? Seems to me that he’s over-swinging a lot.
One run in 7 innings against a nothing pitcher with a +5 ERA and playing in Coors Field should raise a bright red flag. Wait until we face a good pitcher. Yikes.
Here’s the deal – the Dodgers scored 28 runs in 3 games against the Padres that didn’t mean anything.
Now the Dodgers stink the place up in a game that doesn’t mean anything (to them).
Indians beat the Chisox 10 – 1 in a game that doesn’t mean anything.
I am concerned that the Dodgers can’t just “flip the switch”. The 3 games against SD didn’t prove anything. Does the game tonight prove anything? No. But has the “switch been flipped”?
NO
Hmm. Tanking maybe. Rox Snakes one game play in. Maybe the Dodgers are pushing the Rox in hopes they beat the Snakes.
Lots of ideas and scenarios can happen.
Very disappointing result.
–
This is what I would do now.
Kershaw goes tonight, and hopefully we can get the one win necessary to secure home field all the way.
To me, this has become imperative. We are a much better team at Chavez Ravine. Absolute no brainer to ensure that advantage.
–
If CK doesn’t get it done tonight then F##k the Bullpen Game on Sunday, throw the ball to Darvish & tell him to get the job done.
Colorado will have secured the other Wild Card spot & may have a BP game themselves, or at least be in celebratory mood. Darvish won’t pitch before next Saturday (7 days) at the earliest, possibly 9 days if he pitches game 3. He probably would prefer the work anyway.
–
I will be absolutely pissed if we don’t do everything we can to secure the #1 seed.