Yes.
Ok, that’s not all I was going to post. There have been a number of excellent articles written about the slugger’s departure to greener (or Whiter?) pastures, including a couple on this very site, so I thought I’d look at the situation from a different angle. Seeing as how my focus is on the Dodgers’ farm system, I thought I’d look at some prospects who very well could be permeating the chasm left by Manny’s exodus.
Right now, there are two Dodgers’ outfield prospects who are having very good years. Both of them are 22, both are at Double A and both of them should be ready for a big league job next spring. However, the two are different types of prospects.
Jerry Sands
If you’ve been reading my articles this season, you’d know I’ve been on Sands’ bandwagon since last year. I predicted he’d break out in a big way this summer and he didn’t make a fool of me. In 69 Midwest League games, he batted .333/.432/.646 with 18 home runs. Jerry then skipped High A altogether and went to Chattanooga, where he homered in 4 of his first 5 games. However, he faltered in July, seeing his average dip to .244 and his strikeouts soar. However, he’s bounced back in August, batting a solid .277 with an OPS of .836.
Sands is your prototypical corner outfielder. He’s a big guy at 6’4 225 lbs but he has at least average speed. His arm is an asset defensively, as he’s amassed 23 outfield assists in 163 minor league games in the OF. If the outfield doesn’t fit, he can also play first base well, as he was named the best defensive first baseman in the Midwest League by the league’s managers.
At the plate, he gets the bat through the zone very quickly and has extremely strong wrists, enabling him to drive the ball out of any part of the park. He often uses the opposite field, but can turn on good fastballs as well. He’s major setback is his approach against quality breaking balls, as he often quits on them. He’ll also force swings when he’s behind in the count and chase bad pitches. However, the fact that he hits for so much power and draws a lot of walks can hopefully allow him to overcome those shortcomings.
Jerry has been compared to Jason Bay, which I think would make any Dodger fan happy. Were he lucky enough to live up to that comparison, you’re looking at a guy who could hit in the middle of the Dodgers’ order for the next several years.
Trayvon Robinson
Earlier today, Keith Law commented on Manny’s departure and said the real winner of this move was Tray. A 10th round pick out of Crenshaw High School in the 2005 draft, Robinson was slow to develop but really broke out last year by hitting .300 with 17 home runs and 47 stolen bases between the Inland Empire and Chattanooga (all but 19 games were played in High A). This April, Robinson looked like last year’s production was a Cally League mirage, as he hit just .224 in his first 21 games. But he improved over the next few months, hitting .262 in May and .370 in June. While his production has dropped off a bit, he’s still batting .300 with an .842 OPS to go along with 38 steals.
Robinson isn’t the biggest guy at 5’11 195 lbs, but he’s solidly built and strong, allowing him to post modest power numbers. His speed is his best tool, allowing him to wreak havoc on the basepaths and cover plenty of ground in the outfield. Most importantly, he’s developed a discerning eye at the plate, allowing him to draw an impressive amount of walks: his 73 free passes ranks second in the Southern League. However, like Sands, Tray is prone to strikeout and he places 3rd in the circuit with 125 whiffs. But like Sands, I don’t foresee that being a major hindrance, given his walk rate and ability to still make good contact.
He’s fully capable of handling CF, but were the Dodgers to play him in left, he’d offer a Carl Crawford type of skillset: lots of speed, some power, good contact. And when I say he could be like Crawford or Sands could be like Bay, I’m not saying they’re going to produce the same numbers, I’m simply comparing their skills. And again, I’m sure Dodger fans would be happy with having that type of player on the team.
Either of these guys would be a great replacement for the be-dreadlocked one. Sands is a quiet leader, a hard-worker who inspires his teammates with his professionalism, while Tray is a fun-loving crowd-pleaser who is loved by everyone who sees him. Maybe one day, we could see both of them together in Chavez Ravine. But for now, there can be only one.























