Sunday Morning Dodger Links

by Eric Stephen on Nov 1, 2009 7:00 AM PDT in News Comment 27 comments

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Here is a taste of Dodger news and notes from elsewhere around the Internet:

Kensai over at Memories of Kevin Malone has been providing position-by-position reviews of the 2009 Dodgers. So far, he has reviewed the catchers, first basemen, and second sackers.
Mike Scioscia's Tragic Illness has also been reviewing the 2009 Dodgers by position -- here is his look at catcher, first base, second base, and third base. Kudos to the use of 1985 Topps as well!
Joshua Fisher has started a new blog, DodgerDivorce.com
Bobby Crosby (no, not that one) has an interesting YouTube channel, DodgerFilms, showing the game from the unique perspective of the left field pavilion at Dodger Stadium (thanks to Blue Heaven for the link)
Can't get enough Dodger prospect news? Now you can follow a few Dodger minor leaguers on Twitter: Trayvon Robinson (TRobinsonAFL), Blake Smith (Blake_Smith), or former Dodger prospect Josh Bell (JBellAFL)
You can follow the Dominican Winter League here. James McDonald and Blake DeWitt are with Licey, while Jamie Hoffmann is with Escogido (playing with Boom Boom Betemit!)
In other division news, the Giants have re-signed second baseman Freddy Sanchez to a two-year, $12 million deal. He will earn $6 million in each of the next two seasons. Sanchez, who hit .293/.323/.416 with a .322 wOBA and 2.1 WAR in 111 games in 2008, is a nice comparable for free agent Orlando Hudson as he will likely enter the market. If healthy, this is a nice upgrade for the Giants, as their second basemen in 2008 (including Sanchez for ... starts) hit .236/.281/.329 for the worst average, on-base percentage, and OPS in the National League. The 2010 Bill James Handbook projection for Sanchez is .288/.329/.404.

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As a Dodger fan

I have to like the Sanchez signing. If the Giants had a better plan, it would’ve been to wait for Hudson.

by Capt Obvious on Nov 1, 2009 7:40 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

November means Rule V protections coming up soon

Probable protections:

SS Ivan DeJesus Jr.
CF Trayvon Robinson
RHP Javy Guerra

The first two are no-brainers. Guerra wasn’t protected last year but has seen his stock rise.

There will be a slew of free agents coming off the 40-man shortly after the World Series. That means even more prospects can be added if necessary (2005 high school and 2006 college draftees).

Also, I’m sure if the Dodgers are interested in outrighting pre-arb fringe players like Stults and Haeger. Those spots could be in jeopardy if the team needs the space.

by silverwidow on Nov 1, 2009 8:15 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

guerra is a legit relief prospect..

he will defintly be protected.. 94 95 MPH fastball with a great change and a 87 mph slider

by matthewmafa on Nov 1, 2009 8:18 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

November 20

is the date in question

by Eric Stephen on Nov 1, 2009 12:49 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

and Scott Van Slyke (2005 draftee) too

by Eric Stephen on Nov 1, 2009 1:23 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

itll be interesting to see if he gets protected...

do you think he will get protected??

by matthewmafa on Nov 1, 2009 1:41 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Yes, I think they will protect him

by Eric Stephen on Nov 1, 2009 1:46 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Just spitballing here

40-man roster on November 20 (after free agents declare, and prospects are added):

Catchers (3)
Martin, Ellis, May

Infielders (6)
Loney, Furcal, Blake, DeWitt, Hu, DeJesus

Outfielders (9)
Ethier, Kemp, Manny, Pierre, Paul, Repko*, Robinson, Van Slyke
*They won’t non-tender Repko until December 12 or so

Pitchers (16)
Belisario, Billingsley, Broxton, Elbert, Haeger, Kershaw, Kuo, Kuroda, Leach, McDonald, Schlichting, Sherrill, Stults, Troncoso, Wade, Guerra

That’s 34 players on the 40-man, with likely free agents to sign:
1) Starting pitcher
2) Backup catcher
3) Second baseman

They will probably end up signing a couple of bench guys too, but they will have the roster flexibility to do so. Repko might be gone by December 12, or closer to spring training (if they cut him they would need to only pay him 1/4 of his salary), and the other guy out of options is Stults, so I can see him getting to spring training but then being cut once he doesn’t win a spot.

I could be missing a player or two that might also be protected. I would like to know whom Canuck thinks will be protected.

by Eric Stephen on Nov 1, 2009 1:59 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Of course, I can't count

That would be 8 outfielders, not 9. And 33 players on the 40-man

by Eric Stephen on Nov 1, 2009 3:43 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Haeger is out of options, too

Otherwise, good list.

by silverwidow on Nov 1, 2009 4:34 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

will this finally be the year????

where Jason Repko is NONTENDERED?!!!?

by matthewmafa on Nov 1, 2009 8:19 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I think so, yes

by Eric Stephen on Nov 1, 2009 8:49 AM PDT via mobile up reply actions 0 recs

Dumbass Ned

should have non-tendered or straight out DFA’d his ass at the end of ’06 instead of Werth.

by Seanny Rotten on Nov 1, 2009 10:01 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Here's some action from fangraphs

http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/collettis-answer-is-under-his-nose

after reading the article, I don’t see how Hudson can do better than the Dodgers. Our best bet is to sign no one, say we’ll go with youth and then wait out the O Dog.

by Seanny Rotten on Nov 1, 2009 10:11 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

As long as step one is offering arb and Hudson declining, I’m pretty much OK with just about anything at 2B for 2010.

by Eric Stephen on Nov 1, 2009 10:13 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

after thinking about it...

i dont think the dodgers will Offer hudson Arbitration anymore…

He will make 8.5 Mill + in arb… and i dont think the dodgers will want to take the chance of him getting that..

by matthewmafa on Nov 1, 2009 11:13 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah

If I had to guess either way, I would think the Dodgers are leaning toward not offering Hudson arbitration, for the reason you mention. And if that is the case, I’m sure I will be angry about it :)

by Eric Stephen on Nov 1, 2009 12:46 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

yea me too!

it was a for sure that he would get offered arb until his benching…

by matthewmafa on Nov 1, 2009 1:12 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

There is a slight chance that his benching makes it more likely they offer him arbitration, because he is less and less likely to accept. I hope that is the case.

by Eric Stephen on Nov 1, 2009 1:24 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

James Loney is on a national ad

for the RBI program. CC is featured more prominently; it’s mostly a shot of a bunch of people — CC, kids, Loney, kids, CC — saying “thank you” for giving them the opportunity to play.

by Eric Stephen on Nov 1, 2009 10:15 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

The Manu Ginobli bat video is pretty great.

by Eric Stephen on Nov 1, 2009 10:20 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

too bad it happened just after halloween

vampire ginobli would’ve been a great costume

by LA Taco on Nov 1, 2009 3:25 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Update

Diamond Leung tells me Wilson Betemit was traded from his Winter League team and is now playing for Gigantes del Cibao

by Eric Stephen on Nov 1, 2009 3:46 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

and i didnt see james mcdonald anywhere

where is he at??

by matthewmafa on Nov 1, 2009 4:00 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

DeWitt just got there the other day. I think both were training in Arizona during the playoffs and probably were given 7-10 days or so to get there. I wonder if McDonald is going to start and his turn just hasn’t come up yet.

by Eric Stephen on Nov 1, 2009 4:01 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs