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Ethier Exits With Oblique Injury, Time For Colletti To Get Us A Shiny New Bat

Jun 272012
 

Andre Ethier exited Wednesday’s game in the first inning with what is being called a strained oblique. A right fielder with a strained oblique means his out for two weeks, minimum. As if the offense wasn’t bad enough, losing another big bat isn’t going to help an offense that just got swept by the Giants without scoring one run against them. Ridiculous!

With Kemp expected to be out another two weeks, minimum, just when you thought things couldn’t get worse, ta-da! Here we are. The Dodgers are in serious trouble if they can’t turn things around soon. Just look at the Phillies, you can’t continue win games consistently without the key contributors. The Dodgers are now 2-8 over their last ten games. Ethier, Kemp, can it get any worse?

Asking Juan Rivera, Bobby Abreu, A.J. Ellis, and Jerry Hairston to carry this lineup seems ridiculous doesn’t it? That’s because it is. Elian Herrera has been a diamond in the rough for the Dodgers, but he’s no savior, he’s been a great jolt for the offense, but he certainly can’t carry it.

Dee Gordon has had his struggles in his rookie season, although he has been stepping his game up a bit as of late, regardless, at least he’s not making $8MM like Juan Uribe, who’s done absolutely nothing but hurt the offense every time he gets to the plate. James Loney and his $6.38MM salary aren’t helping a whole lot either. Guess what you get when you put $8MM and $6.38MM together? Watch out, I’m going to do some math, $14.38MM. That’s Hanley Ramirez money ladies and gents, I don’t know about you but something seems a bit wrong here.

Perhaps this will force the Dodgers to make some changes. I think it’s time for Colletti to get on the phone and find us a nice, brand new, shiny bat. One that hits the ball, drives in runs, oh and hits the ball out of the infield, that always works out well for an offense. The Dodgers definitely need some offensive help and they are going to have to deal some of their pitching surplus in order to get it. The question at this point is, is one bat enough?

The good news is Mark Ellis should be returning in July, which will allow the Dodgers to put Uribe on the bench where he belongs. Ellis is scheduled to begin a rehab assignment soon, Kemp isn’t too far behind. With Loney and Uribe not carrying their weight, Ethier and Kemp expected to miss at least two more weeks, Mark Ellis’ return will be much welcomed, but he’s a role player, nothing more.

So how many bats? I’m thinking two, trade and upgrade Loney, that’s the obvious one. Loney has got to go, he’s obviously no longer part of the long-term solution in Los Angeles, so it’s time for the Dodgers to finally make the long overdue change. 3B seems to be the other obvious, but I could still see the Dodgers upgrading left field and putting Rivera and Abreu over at first. There are plenty of names in the rumor mill that could help the Dodgers, so Colletti needs to make it happen, tick-tock Colletti, time to get down to business.

 06/27/2012  Posted by at 6:25 pm Dodgers News 1 Response »

Dodgers In Pursuit Of Wandy Rodriguez

Jun 202012
 

If the rumors about the Dodgers are even half true, we can certainly expect the Dodgers to be big players in the summer deadline sweepstakes. There is a lot of pressure on the Dodgers players, the new ownership group, and the franchise as a whole at this point. I would hate to see the Dodgers make moves to simply to make moves, we have seen this happen in recent years, hopefully Colletti has learned his lesson, and I would like to think Kasten knows better than that.

According to Steve Dilbeck, the Dodgers are in pursuit of a starting pitcher, at least one offensive upgrade, and a left-handed reliever. Trades are difficult these days, according to Ned Colletti, as teams are reportedly only willing to move pending free agents. It is early in the trading game, with still over a month to go, a lot can happen over the next 30 days. Teams will continue to fall out of contention, but with the additional wild-card this year, it may have teams being a bit more optimistic than in years past. More sellers will emerge, that’s for sure, and most teams that are willing to deal, aren’t willing to show their hand quite yet, hoping to get more in return from a desperate team. Closer to the deadline there will be more sellers, better bargains, and a bigger selection, it happens every year. Trust me. In the meantime, sit back and enjoy the fun.

With that in mind, the Dodgers were in attendance for the Astros game last night. They Dodgers had scouting officials watching Wandy Rodriguez, according to Ken Rosenthal. Rodriguez pitched 7 innings, allowed 6 hits, 2 earned runs, 3 strikeouts, and 2 walks. This of course was against the Royals, so it’s not like he was pitching against the Rangers or Yankees, so take that for what it is worth. But this is about what you would hope to get from Rodriguez, but I’m not sure if I am sold on him really. It’s hard for me to call this guy an upgrade over anyone except maybe Harang. Perhaps his numbers would be better at Chavez Ravine, I’m sure his win/loss record certainly would be, you know, with an offense behind it.

So far 2012 has brought Rodriguez a 6-5 record with a 3.29 ERA. He is only averaging 5.74 strikeouts per 9 innings this year compared to his career average of 7.54, but his walks per 9 innings in fairing a little better, allowing 2.1 compared to his career average of 3.1, and his SO/BB average is at 2.77 compared to his career average of 2.40, so I guess it pretty much evens out in the end. Look at me doing math again, scary I know.

Rodriguez, 33, does however come at a fairly reasonable price. He will earn $10MM in 2012, $13MM in 2013, and his $13MM performance option for 2014 would become a player option if traded. That would make Rodriguez a Dodger for what two and a half years then? Tough call, I would have to get a better look at what the Dodgers would be giving up to make a judgement call here. Certainly not the worst option on the trade market, but I think the Dodgers can do better.

The Dodgers seem to have added another name to their wishlist as they continue to hunt for starting pitching. This is very interesting to me, as I have already speculated on Carlos Lee, while I also see James Loney being a fit for the Astros. Very interesting indeed. Could a package deal be in the works? That would be a serious salary dump move by the Astros, providing them a lot more financial flexibility, and I can see the Dodgers come out ahead in a deal, if Loney is sent to Houston, and the Dodgers don’t give up a ton of quality prospects.

 06/20/2012  Posted by at 9:55 pm Dodgers News, Dodgers Rumors 1 Response »

Dodgers November Rumors and News Recap

Nov 302011
 

The Dodgers have been busy this winter despite what you may be reading elsewhere. For those of you whose lives are too busy to keep with all the rumors and news on a daily basis, this is for you. This is the November monthly recap where you have a chance to get caught up on all that has happened with one quick glance and a few clicks. To keep up with all the latest Dodgers news and rumors easier, I recommend subscribing in a reader to get your daily dosage of Dodgers rumors and news.

For those of you who are not familiar with “readers” check out the following website ww.google.com/reader
Ned Colletti started the month of November with a fiery start, signing Juan Rivera, Mark Ellis, Matt Treanor, Adam Kennedy, and made some minor league signings as well. While it’s pretty obvious to me that most of these moves were completely unnecessary, add them together with James Loney’s 2012 commitment, and you pretty much have Prince Fielder’s 2012 salary covered. I’m perfectly happy with guys like Justin Sellers, Jerry Sands, and Russ Mitchell contributing to get the job done if that means Fielder is in the middle of our lineup, I’m just sayin’.
Despite all those head scratchers at least Colletti handled the top priority of this winter, locking up Matt Kemp to a eight-year, $160MM contract. Perhaps the most important contract handed to a player in the last twenty years. Colletti did what other GM’s have failed to do for the past two decades, so you gotta give him some credit for getting this done, because I had serious doubt at times if he was going to have the ability to get the job done. So I guess when Colletti is long gone, we will have this and the trade that brought us Andre Ethier to remember him by. 
For all you Rule 5 Draft fans there is an official preview I put together, and an update to go along with it. With the draft just six short days away, here is a chance to get up to date prior to next weeks event.
Haven’t seen a whole lot of rumors yet, and with the way the winter is going I wouldn’t be surprised if the rumors stay pretty quiet. 
Of course the biggest news of November was Frank McCourt agreeing to sell the Dodgers. Perhaps December will give us a clearer picture on who will officially enter the bidding as prospective owners begin to get down to business. Regardless it seems this will be the storyline to follow this winter, not Pujols or Fielder as most had hoped, but at least the light at the end of tunnel is beginning to get brighter each day McCourt gets further and further away from our beloved franchise. Speaking of new owner, in Mike Antebi’s official Christmas Countdown For a New Dodger Owner, Mike details all the things we wish for the new Dodger owner to do once he or she scoops up the team and rescue it from McCourts destruction.
 11/30/2011  Posted by at 9:44 pm Dodgers News, Dodgers Rumors No Responses »

Around The Bases: News Worth Noting

Sep 262010
 

In a quick McCourt divorce update, Dylan Hernandez is tweeting that there has been no progress in a settlement between Frank and Jamie McCourt. While some will take this news both directions, I personally think this is good news for Dodger fans. The trial is now set to resume Monday morning.

Ken Gurnick is reporting that the Dodgers are expecting to bring back outfielder Jay Gibbons for the 2011 season. Gibbons has received some interest from multiple teams in the Japanese League, but the California native will probably look to stay close to home.

Jon Weisman of ESPNLA warns that the Dodgers may be taking on a future bad contract is they are successful in re-signing Ted Lilly to a long term deal this winter. Hard to argue this one, in fact Weisman may be nailing this one right on the head. Lilly, 35, has put together a nice run for the Dodgers since the July trade deadline, and Colletti had better tread carefully before handing over a large long-term contract to another aging player.

I have already touched on this a bit in the ongoing 2011 season preview series, Jayson Stark throws in the Dodgers as a potential suitor for Jayson Werth this winter.

Mike Scioscia’s Tragic Illness analyzes the Russell Martin situation, and provides his opinion on the options the Dodgers will be dealing with this winter. Buster Olney is tweeting that he has heard from rival executives that should the Dodgers decide to trade Martin, he will have some trade value left for the Dodgers to work with.

John Ely has been terrible since Elymania wore off at the beginning of the season. As Steve Dilbeck of the L.A. Times writes, Ely may be pitching himself right out of the Dodgers 2011 rotation, and perhaps the Dodgers 2011 plans altogether.

 09/26/2010  Posted by at 3:27 pm Dodgers Rumors No Responses »

Around The Bases: Rule 5 Draft Update

Dec 102009
 

With the Winter Meetings drawing to a close, and the Dodgers hot stove being ice cold, I felt it was a good time to see what else is going on outside the hot stove.

There has been a lot going on the last several days. To catch up on lastest Dodgers rumors you can click here. If you are looking for what’s gone the last few days you can click here.

Tim Dierkes over at MLBTR has a complete list of the 2009 Rule 5 Draft selections. Some Dodger things worth mentioning here. Jamie Hoffmann was selected by the New York Yankees with the first pick of the draft. Hoffmann has been on the outs with the Dodgers since being DFA’d and then resigned shortly after.

Carlos Monasterios was taken by the Mets, then immediately was traded to the Dodgers for cash. The Rays later took Armando Zerpa, and then traded him to the Dodgers for cash. What in the world? The Dodgers have resorted to trading for Rule 5 picks, seems odd to me. Jon Weisman provides some thoughts on today’s Rule 5 transactions.

Ken Gurnick of MLB.com says that Ned Colletti plans to tender contracts to all nine eligible players. Yes that includes Jason Repko. Repko was considered to be a non-tender candidate before the Juan Pierre rumors gained momentum. Now Repko may be in line for a fourth outfielder role with the Dodgers in 2010 if Colletti is successful in trading Pierre. True Blue LA compares Jason Repko and Xavier Paul, and provides his thoughts on who is the best fit.

Diamond Leung passes along a trade rumor regarding Andre Ethier, don’t worry it’s only a joke. It’s funny so check it out.

 12/10/2009  Posted by at 1:55 pm Dodgers Rumors No Responses »