Comments on: The Forest or The Trees? http://www.ladodgertalk.com/2010/01/the-forest-or-the-trees/ Don't drink the Kol-Aid - See a Different Game Wed, 08 Feb 2012 20:59:40 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Rory http://www.ladodgertalk.com/2010/01/the-forest-or-the-trees/comment-page-1/#comment-20678 Rory Sat, 23 Jan 2010 17:20:47 +0000 http://www.ladodgertalk.com/?p=7207#comment-20678 We are going to miss Hudson, Wolf and Pierre. We have no replacements for them. I can see the middle of this lineup having good years, but they will have to carry the ballclub. I sure hope they all stay injury free. I did see that fangraphs predicts Raffy to have his best year since 2006. I hope they are right and he gets his game back. We are going to need something at the top of this lineup. Again, 3-6 should be ok. I hope Martin returns to form, but I see a lot of outs at the top and at the bottom of this lineup. I am not confident in the bench and I do not expect 32 starts out of Kuroda, Padilla and whoever wins the 5th spot. The pen should be fine, but they will again likely lead the league in IP. I still have many questions about this club, and I worry that the pressures of what is happening in the ownership suite will have a trickle down effect on the players. That divorce is hanging there like a huge black cloud, and when it opens up, there may not be an umbrella big enough to keep the team dry. BTW, fangraphs has a different position for Casey Blake. They have him<strong> behind </strong>Andy LaRoche. Do I see another 100 push-up bet for the coming year? Bill? Romey? Anybody? We are going to miss Hudson, Wolf and Pierre. We have no replacements for them.

I can see the middle of this lineup having good years, but they will have to carry the ballclub. I sure hope they all stay injury free. I did see that fangraphs predicts Raffy to have his best year since 2006. I hope they are right and he gets his game back. We are going to need something at the top of this lineup. Again, 3-6 should be ok. I hope Martin returns to form, but I see a lot of outs at the top and at the bottom of this lineup. I am not confident in the bench and I do not expect 32 starts out of Kuroda, Padilla and whoever wins the 5th spot. The pen should be fine, but they will again likely lead the league in IP.

I still have many questions about this club, and I worry that the pressures of what is happening in the ownership suite will have a trickle down effect on the players. That divorce is hanging there like a huge black cloud, and when it opens up, there may not be an umbrella big enough to keep the team dry.

BTW, fangraphs has a different position for Casey Blake. They have him behind Andy LaRoche. Do I see another 100 push-up bet for the coming year? Bill? Romey? Anybody?

]]> By: Mark Timmons http://www.ladodgertalk.com/2010/01/the-forest-or-the-trees/comment-page-1/#comment-20676 Mark Timmons Sat, 23 Jan 2010 17:00:07 +0000 http://www.ladodgertalk.com/?p=7207#comment-20676 Great read by Tony Jackson about Kim Ng: http://sports.espn.go.com/los-angeles/mlb/columns/story?id=4849923 Great read by Tony Jackson about Kim Ng:

http://sports.espn.go.com/los-angeles/mlb/columns/story?id=4849923

]]> By: Mark Timmons http://www.ladodgertalk.com/2010/01/the-forest-or-the-trees/comment-page-1/#comment-20675 Mark Timmons Sat, 23 Jan 2010 16:45:46 +0000 http://www.ladodgertalk.com/?p=7207#comment-20675 I predict what I think players can accomplish. I don't publish fiction. I mean, I don't say that Kemp will hit .350 with 50 HR or that Kershaw will win the Cy Young (this year). I think my projections are realistic. Now, things happen: injuries (Raffy), Suspensions (Manny) and just off-seasons(Bills and Martin). I know that not everyone will have a career year, but when you see guys like Loney, Kemp, Ethier and Kershaw improve every year in certain areas, you can rest assured that they will continue to do that. I have a sneeking feeling that these guys will take their game to another level this year. I predict what I think players can accomplish. I don’t publish fiction. I mean, I don’t say that Kemp will hit .350 with 50 HR or that Kershaw will win the Cy Young (this year). I think my projections are realistic. Now, things happen: injuries (Raffy), Suspensions (Manny) and just off-seasons(Bills and Martin). I know that not everyone will have a career year, but when you see guys like Loney, Kemp, Ethier and Kershaw improve every year in certain areas, you can rest assured that they will continue to do that.

I have a sneeking feeling that these guys will take their game to another level this year.

]]> By: Rory http://www.ladodgertalk.com/2010/01/the-forest-or-the-trees/comment-page-1/#comment-20671 Rory Sat, 23 Jan 2010 15:25:51 +0000 http://www.ladodgertalk.com/?p=7207#comment-20671 I admit, I was one who wanted to give Manny three years. How was I to know he was still doing steroids? I realize the guy is not known for is IQ, but, come on. Roids at this stage of the game? And, had he been there all year, what kind of numbers do you think he would have put up? And Mark, you are the guy that predicts career years every year, what are your predictions for Manny this year? Is he the one guy on this team you don't believe will hit .300 with 100 rbi's? And, just out of curiosity, how many tickets do you think he sells every game? I see Manny, in the middle of our lineup, hitting .290 with a .400 OBP. If we hadn't lost Hudson, I could have easily seen 100 rbi's. I don't know now, because I have no idea who hits second on this team. Martin? Hope not. He needs to be around the 6 hole so he can do what he does without pressure. Ethier? He is probably the best suited for it, but, he will likely hit 3rd. Furcal and his .335 OBP leads off, then ....... ? And I will say again what I said last year, had we signed Manny for three years, if needed, we probably could have moved him in his last year to an A.L. team, where he could focus on doing what he does best, hit the freakin' ball. I can see this team winning 88-90 - if all goes right for them. We have any hiccups or injuries - .500 will be it. I admit, I was one who wanted to give Manny three years. How was I to know he was still doing steroids? I realize the guy is not known for is IQ, but, come on. Roids at this stage of the game? And, had he been there all year, what kind of numbers do you think he would have put up?

And Mark, you are the guy that predicts career years every year, what are your predictions for Manny this year? Is he the one guy on this team you don’t believe will hit .300 with 100 rbi’s?

And, just out of curiosity, how many tickets do you think he sells every game?

I see Manny, in the middle of our lineup, hitting .290 with a .400 OBP. If we hadn’t lost Hudson, I could have easily seen 100 rbi’s. I don’t know now, because I have no idea who hits second on this team. Martin? Hope not. He needs to be around the 6 hole so he can do what he does without pressure. Ethier? He is probably the best suited for it, but, he will likely hit 3rd. Furcal and his .335 OBP leads off, then ……. ?

And I will say again what I said last year, had we signed Manny for three years, if needed, we probably could have moved him in his last year to an A.L. team, where he could focus on doing what he does best, hit the freakin’ ball.

I can see this team winning 88-90 – if all goes right for them. We have any hiccups or injuries – .500 will be it.

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