Rant & Rave Thursday

Tradewinds Are Brewing…

This Dodger team for 2020 is the deepest in major league history and has no obvious holes. Cut to the chase: I think it’s time to make another trade like the “Salary Dump” to the Reds whereby the Dodgers ended up with Jo Jo Gray, Mookie Bettes and David Price. Well, that wasn’t “exactly” the trade, but it was effectively the trade as Jeter Downs was a key piece to the deal to obtain Betts and Company.

The Dodgers have an abundance of bench players who would start on other teams and they also have Joc Pederson who will be a Free Agent next season and they will not extend him the Qualifying Offer, so they either have to lose him with no compensation or trade him now. If they think he can be instrumental in winning a Championship, then maybe it’s worth it, but believe me… it’s being discussed. It could happen now of it could happen at the trade deadline.

With the emergence of Zach McKinstry, who is LH, it would seem to me that Kike Hernandez, who is also a Free Agent after 2020, would also be available in trade. Pederson and Hernandez would be starters on most teams, and the Dodgers just might be able to get two solid prospects as they did with Gray and Downs. It just depends upon the market. Stay tuned!

What’s Up With Keibert Ruiz?

Long story short: Since late 2018, the Dodgers have been trying to overhaul Kaybear’s swing, but there is difficulty in doing so. The coaches were able to overhaul Will Smith’s swing in about a half-season, resulting in noticeably more power as they changed both his swing path and launch angle. Will Smith took to it like a fish out of water, but Will was already somewhat of a “swing and miss” guy. Keibert Ruiz has some of the best bat-to-ball skills on the planet and while he has bought into changing his swing, it bis much more difficult as muscle memory and habit take over.

I am beginning to wonder if Kaybear can really change his swing? With his elite bat-to-ball skills, it is likely very hard to do so. Some coaches felt that towards the end of last season, he was getting the hang of it and he was promoted to OKC where he flourished… until he broke his hand and ended his season prematurely. Hopefully, he can re-tool his swing, but it might take longer than normal due to his amazing ability to make contact. Robert Van Socyoc and Company have been successful many times, but Ruiz might be their greatest challenge. He’s still only 21, so there is hope.

The Dodgers True Ace

Clayton Kershaw will start for the Dodgers on Opening Day and will match up with the other team’s ace. So many people write him off and yet his ERA was the 9th best in baseball last season. We have seen him slip from what he once was, but even in his worst season (2019) his ERA remained elite. It was 3.03, and was the worst of his career, except for his partial rookie season. The worst ERA of his career placed him ahead of Charlie Morton, Partick Corbin, Walker Buehler, Stephen Strasburg, Luis Castillo, Mike Minor, and Madison Baumgarner… to name but a few.

He is healthy and drastically changed his workout methods in the offseason. The back and hip issues are distant images in the rear-view mirror and I fully expect him to get a couple of MPH back on his fastball. I hear that he has. If so, look for another Top Three Cy Young Award finish with a mid 2.00 ERA. The Dodgers do not want any starter to throw over 200 innings (right or wrong), so I still wonder if they will go with 6 starters.

What about his playoff meltdowns? Well, one was due to cheating and I am fairly certain that the others were the result of his stubbornness to change signs. Clayton does not like to do that. I dare say, he has learned that lesson and will learn to love it when they change signs. I would wager that there is a whole new way of exchanging signs with his catcher by the end of Spring Training.

Clayton is still the Dodger Ace… probably for another two years. Watch and see!

The Best Bullpen in Baseball?

It’s early, but already Kenley Jansen looked in mid-season form with his cutter hitting 94 MPH with late-life… just like it used to look. Joe Kelly ht 99 MPH with his fastball and a curve that hit 90 MPH from the same arm slot. Again, both have been patients of Driveline Baseball! Caleb Ferguson has looked outstanding and commands his curveball and Baez and Treinen have yet to appear. If Jimmy Nelson can step up, the pen will be loaded.

I am not yet ready to anoint them the best in baseball, but it could very well happen. Mitch White and Dennis Santana have also been “bringing it.” This could not only be the best Dodger bullpen of All-Time, but it could also be one of the best in the game… maybe ever! When you have Kelly and Jansen looking like that, you absolutely have something amazing!

Other News

  • Luke Raley, Zach Reks, and Matt Beaty are the same guy… and all are 4th outfielder-types.
  • Is it possible Rocky Gale beats out Austin Barnes for backup catcher? It’s not likely, but it is possible. Rocky has benefited from the Dodger hitting coaches and is solid defensively.
  • At some point, we may be forced to realize that Cody Thomas is better than DJ Peters as a power-hitter.
  • Tony Gonsolin starts today for the Blue.
  • On the last thread Bluto posted this:

Who says no:

Yankees get:
Chris Taylor & Ross Stripling

Dodgers get:
Kevin Alcantara
Ezekiel Duran
Alex Vargas

Today’s Music

This article has 51 Comments

  1. Best bullpen ever? How many cups of coffee did u have this morning Mark? Nothing like a little springtime optimism! And we haven’t even seen Treinen, Baez, Graterol, Alexander and Nelson pitch yet. We may not even need a starting rotation! Well it is rant and rave Thursday! That’s some serious raving!

  2. In addition to Joc, Pedro Baez and Kiké Hernandez will be free agents after this season and will not receive qualifying offers. Trade chips for sure. There isn’t room on the active roster for both Beaty and Rios; McKinstry makes one of them expendable for the right return. Yankees could trade for another starting pitcher, but I do not see them giving up Alcantara, Duran, and Vargas for Stripling and Taylor. With Hernandez headed elsewhere, whether traded, or free agency, I don’t believe Dodgers will trade Taylor, who is signed through 2021, this season.

    1. Based on reading an article about Joc in The Athletic it would seem Joc wants to see what he can get in free agency. The Dodgers main argument in Joc’s arbitration hearing was that he finished less than 60% of the games he started.

      1. With extensions coming up for Seager, Bellinger, and Buehler, I don’t see Pederson as a Dodgers after this season. I read that the Dodgers did not show up at Pederson’s arbitration, allowing MLB to handle the arguments. I am suspicious of Pederson being held out of practice and games. My guess, Dodgers are trying to trade him and do not want to risk injury, or a slow start to spring training as they negotiate with other teams.

      2. I’m not the world’s biggest Joc fan (certainly not as big a supporter as you Bums), but I find it hilarious that the team argued Joc was worth less because he didn’t finish games when they were the ones responsible for that outcome. After all, Joc didn’t go to Doc and say “pull me”.

        1. Good point there, on Joc. On many occasion last year Joc started because the opposing pitcher was RH. In middle of game, depending upon the score and game situation Roberts immediately pulled Joc for a RH PH if the opposing team brought in a LHP and we know the reasons why. However what was noted before was that it eventually put Roberts at a disadvantage later in game when a RHP returned to the mound and Dodgers did not have the use of Joc’s services against that righty, so his 36 HR’s against RHP were left on the bench. Joc most likely will be dealt as SoCal suggested here, but dealing him by himself may not get much of a return simply because Joc is a FA after 2020.

  3. Okay, I’m not trading Chris Taylor. Probably don’t want to trade Ross Stripling and at this point, you can’t trade Joc Pederson. Have to let it play out and see where everything lands. And I’m guessing the Yankees won’t part with those players for the package proposed.

    As for everything else, hey, it’s spring and optimism is blooming everywhere.

  4. I wonder if Dodgers would trade David Price to the Yankees? NY LH reliever Zach Britton has a $13M AAV, and Price is ~$15M for Dodgers (Bosox paying $16M per year for remainder of contract). Dodgers could include Beaty, or Rios, and get Andujar, or Frazier in addition to Britton?

    1. I think David Price is going to be a lot more valuable to the Dodgers than people believe. I don’t see them trading him. Zach Britton is a ground ball machine and he would do well with the Dodgers’ defense though.

    1. At least it isn’t shoulder or elbow discomfort. Hopefully his health issues are minor and he’ll be throwing again soon.

      1. Exactly. Dodgers are so deep in pitching there is no reason to take any chances with any discomfort.

        1. Hello SoCal… my point exactly as far as ST goes. Dodgers can afford to allow Nelson to take his time and fully recover, and especially it allows them to finally take a look at Yadier Alvarez should he escape from that restricted list. Dodgers have many BP options.

  5. Re: Kershaw:

    Here’s an interesting posting from Dwight James from NBC Sports Northeast on Kershaw in the 2017 World Series:

    “This video, from Tom Verducci, the noted baseball writer from Sports Illustrated, brings to light an unbelievable statistic that I had never heard before, about the pivotal Game 5 of that Series.

    Clayton Kershaw of the Dodgers had pitched the opening game of the World Series in Los Angeles and it was a gem — he allowed only one run over seven innings, walked none and struck out 11 in a 3-1 Dodger win.

    Then in Game 5 at Houston, with the Series tied 2-2, the Astros returned to their home park, the site of the sign stealing. And just absolutely blasted Kershaw out of the game.

    But here’s the thing: Anybody who knows baseball knows all about Kershaw’s devastating slider and curveball. They are terrific pitches for him. Unless you know they’re coming.

    Verducci revealed that out of 51 sliders and curves Kershaw threw in that game he got ZERO swings and misses. None. Which is ridiculous. Impossible.

    They didn’t chase that nasty slider in the dirt and they didn’t get fooled by the curveball.

    You think the Houston hitters didn’t know what was coming? And that it didn’t help them to a great degree?”

      1. I still vividly remember during that game how scared I was. We were up 4-0, and Kersh was getting outs, but I kept texting my buddies and writing “I’m nervous. Kersh has ZERO swing and miss stuff, and that doesn’t bode well.”

        Sure enough, that 4-0 lead was gone. And even with the new 7-4 lead, he still didn’t have that “swing and miss stuff”.

        Now we know why.

      2. What should have happened was that someone or a group of people should have dumped all those Astro cheaters into that trash can! And as I was telling an associate at my gym yesterday that NORMALLY if you score 12 runs especially in a WS game you should win that game.. sound suspicious about that game 5? You bet it does as far as I am concerned.

    1. According to Carlos Correa, the Astros didn’t steal the signs during the world series because it was too loud, the Dodgers signs were done in Morse code, or some other lame excuse he hasn’t thought of yet.

      1. Words for Correa and Jim Crane to live by: “It is better to keep your mouth closed and let people think you are a fool than to open it and remove all doubt.”

        1. Great quote. Applies to all walks of life, including baseball and politics among others.

          1. Crane may be that owner, but I do not believe for a minute that he wasn’t quite aware of this whole scandal going on. As another poster said, he should be forced to sell the team. He makes me sick to my stomach!

  6. I see Dodgers trading Kike and Joc for prospects this spring. I don’t think Price is going to be moved especially if he fits in. He fills the roll Hill had and could be a mentor and coach to the young pitchers coming up. I see him having a big year getting out of the little league park in Boston will have a positive effect on his era. You can never have enough starting pitching so I think Strip will stick at least until the trade deadline.

  7. The Angels’ Griffin Canning is having an MRI after feeling something abnormal while throwing. If he is out, the Angels will be even more desperate for pitching. Holding onto all of their pitching may be in the best interest for the Dodgers. The price for starters is only going to get more expensive. Wait and sell high to a desperate team.

    1. I think the Dodgers can afford to trade a starting pitcher, depending on the return, but will not be surprised if Moreno and the Angels are persona non grata to the Dodgers for a good, long while. There is no doubt in my mind that the “leak” of the Pederson/Stripling/Pages trade came from the Angels, then Moreno backs out.

    2. I learned on Twitter that:

      Canning’s elbow was part of what scared teams off him in the first round in 2017.

  8. Cody, Cody, Cody!!! You’re making it tough on me and my DJ Peters allegiance… A dilemna I can live with…
    MLB today stated that NYY OF is quickly becoming a mess…
    Joc or ?? to NYY for what???
    Dodger pen best in baseball?? Damn near at this point, but time will tell…
    Lux – ROY…Why not!!??

    1. I think Joc could fit with several teams, including Yankees, Indians, Rangers, Mariners, and Cardinals

      1. First he needs to get healthy. They’re being a little tight lipped about his condition. Remember how Verdugo’s played out last year? First it was an issue with his side, then moved to his back and suddenly he didn’t play for the rest of the year.

        1. It would not surprise me if the Dodgers were making an excuse to keep Pederson out of games while they are attempting to trade him.

  9. Mark you are so stubborn. Everyone knows Buehler is our ace except for you. Opening day starts mean nothing and Kershaw will probably get it because of what he means to the Dodgers and because it’s not ideal to have 4 lefties pitching in a row. In terms of pure stuff at this point and being able to handle the pressure of pitching in a big game Buehler is our ace in every way. You can’t deny that his stuff is overwhelming and he has that bulldog mentality come playoff time. You can take the playoff choker I’ll take the guy who wants the ball in the biggest games and seems to deliver time and time again.

    1. I’m not going to get involved in your discussion with Mark as to who our “Ace” is, but I do want to point out that if CK starts the opener and Buehler pitches the second game, he will then be followed by four lefties so that part of your argument doesn’t hold water.

      1. That 4 lefties thing was concerning to me but I see that as temporary because we all know the starting rotation could very well look a bit different as we go further into the year.

    2. I am stubborn, and proud of it. Especially when I expect the fight in Kershaw to be at it’s best this year. I sure don’t find it easy to dethrone the greatest pitcher of this generation. When the smoke clears Buehler will prove to be great but still 2nd to the greatest. And that ain’t taking anything away from Buehler.

  10. The theory that Joc is being held out of workouts and games to help trade him requires Joc to agree and is preposterous anyway.

    Conspiracy theory and already have enough of that.

  11. Kpizzle… You had me with the Snoop Dog hip-hop slang!!! Then I looked up Pizzle in Wikipedia and yep you’re thinking with yours…
    There is no comment necessary for your comments on our Ace other than he is…
    You may be one of our most interesting commentators in the future, showing that you can be a Dodger fan and still maintain a modest IQ…
    P.S. Only thing beats this is a reply by Carlos..

  12. Resurrect and make the Angel trade. Pollock has very little value so he is close to untradeable. If he is as good as some on here thinks the Angel middle infielder would fill the spot of kike if the Dodgers are looking to trade him. Trading joc, kike, and stripling would send 15-16 million out the door. I agree with mark on joc. Trade him or lose him next year with nothing to show. I think losing joc would be a blow but if he is not coming back then try to improve the team. The Angels could use stripling for sure and probably Cleveland with their pitching injuries.

    I also agree that our bullpen is going to be stellar. We may need a lefty but we have pitchers from the right who handle lefties. Plus price is lurking for the postseason as a starter bullpen piece. we don’t really have to have a lefty to get to the postseason but in the postseason price could be it.

    I am really excited to watch Bueller pitch this year. He has proven when the stakes are the highest he can be as dominant as anyone. He has had limited experience in big games but that experience has been second to none.

  13. In the game today against the Indians, K, Hernandez was terrific, as was Gonsolin. Taylor, Raley, Barnes, Reks and White did well. Can not wait until season starts. Kershaw is my pick for starter. Agree with Mark.

  14. Mark,
    If Keibert Ruiz has some of the best bat to ball skills in all of baseball, which I also feel he does, wouldn’t he be a great asset. Every time I’ve seen him play he has shown me that he is a doubles machine with line drives in the gaps and down the lines. We need hitters like him in the line-up to drive in runs without total reliance on the home run.

    Singing the Blue,
    With four lefties and one righty, it doesn’t matter where Buehler pitches because he’ll always be followed by four lefties so Mark’s argument still holds water on that point.

    1. I was referring to Kpizzle’s stating that they might start CK and then Buehler in order to avoid having 4 lefties pitch in a row. As you point out, no matter who goes first they’re still going to have 4 lefties in a row. That was the point I was making also.

  15. I’m not giving away Joc. Especially if they can’t get under the luxury tax threshold anyways. If Joc rolls out there and hits 36 bombs again while playing solid defense I would have no problem offer him a QO. Like AF said, he’s gotten better every year. I have little faith in Pollock nor do I see OF’s at AAA who would provide as much as Joc. I’m waiting until I know the results of extending Mookie before I let Joc walk or trade him for salary relief.
    ~
    May isn’t ready to go. Nelson probably won’t make the team if he doesn’t get on the field in the next couple of weeks. Urias, Price, Graterol, and Treinen haven’t seen the field yet so I’m not offloading Stripling quite yet either. Moreno kind of insulted Stripling after the deal didn’t go through and Stripling said he preferred to stay with LA over Anaheim. If they can package them for a great haul so be it, but if they aren’t getting under the luxury tax there isn’t any pressure to do so. Before we anoint McKinstry, Peters, and Thomas the next big thing, lets see them hit off of big league pitchers and not just some AB’s off of minor league camp fodder.
    ~
    Price is a guy I could see the Dodgers dealing after the season if they can re-build his value. It also depends on the development of Urias, May, Goose, and Gray. I do like the bullpen pieces on paper. Although I don’t trust Kelly. Stuff has never been his issue.

  16. The numbers tell me that the Dodgers, from April to September, have two true Aces: Kershaw and Buehler.
    Those same numbers tell me that in October we have only one true Ace: Buehler.

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