Dodgers Need Manny Ramirez Back
by Eric Stephen on Apr 30, 2010 11:01 AM PDT
in Dodgers History & Records
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When Manny Ramirez was placed on the disabled list one week ago today, we all thought the Dodger offense would struggle without him. After all, he was hitting .415/.500/.659, not exactly someone you can easily replace, let alone with Garret Anderson and Reed Johnson. The Dodger offense has fallen off a cliff without Manny, scoring just 13 runs in seven games:
| Dodger Offense With Manny on the DL | ||||
| Games | Runs | BA/OBP/SLG | OPS | BABIP |
| 7 | 13 | .185/.261/.282 | .543 | .230 |
It is important to note that it has only been seven games, and the Dodgers are not going to continue to have a .230 batting average on balls in play, just as they weren't going to continue the .346 BABIP they had before Manny went on the DL. However, Manny is missed by this offense, particular his two fellow outfielders.
Matt Kemp and Andre Ethier have blossomed in the last two years. Together, with Manny, they have formed what is likely the best outfield in the history of the Los Angeles Dodgers. However, Kemp and Ethier have struggled mightily without Manny in the lineup. I looked at games started by both Kemp and Ethier since Manny arrived, and compared them to when Manny was in or out of the lineup.
| Dodger Outfield With or Without Manny |
||||||||||
| Player | Starts | PA | 2B | HR | HR% | BB | BB% | BA/OBP/SLG | OPS | BABIP |
| Ethier w/ Manny | 143 | 663 | 43 | 33 | 5.0% | 76 | 11.5% | .325/.410/.592 | 1.002 | .344 |
| Ethier w/o Manny | 67 | 287 | 14 | 12 | 4.2% | 27 | 9.4% | .237/.317/.443 | .760 | .251 |
|
|
||||||||||
| Kemp w Manny | 153 | 683 | 38 | 30 | 4.4% | 51 | 7.5% | .299/.351/.526 | .878 | .335 |
| Kemp w/o Manny | 74 | 311 | 5 | 9 | 2.9% | 21 | 6.8% | .279/.325/.402 | 727 | .329 |
There is a huge BABIP difference with Ethier, but even that doesn't explain away the huge chasm between performance with or without Manny.
Manny has one more week on the disabled list, and be activated next Saturday, May 8 for the game against Colorado. I am counting the days, as this offense sorely needs him.
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Comments
Unbelievable
That is weird. Do Kemp and Ethier both really see that many better pitches when Manny is in the lineup?
Ethier’s difference is between a below average player and a Hall of Famer.
The Ultimate Ned's Kind of Guy
I did this a year ago
when Manny was suspended. I had hoped that the numbers had improved. I guess not, with him they are the holy trinity without him they are the doubting duo.
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
typo in the article
you mean “the Dodgers are NOT going to continue to have a .230 batting average on balls in play”
The Ultimate Ned's Kind of Guy
as for typos
Excellent article. Nice take with coherent, easy to understand stats laid out in simple format.
But you used a “worse” when you should have used a “worst”. Again. I think you’ve caught meercatjohn-itis.
by Seanny Rotten on Apr 30, 2010 11:20 AM PDT up reply actions
I so much enjoy it
when Meercatjohn gets blamed for improper grammar usage and Phil’s good name remains unscathed.
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
by Phil Gurnee on Apr 30, 2010 11:26 AM PDT up reply actions
I don’t see a “worse” or a “worst”. ? Or are you just joking about the grammar cop a week or so ago?
The commenter formerly known as El Lay Dave.
by David Young on Apr 30, 2010 11:31 AM PDT up reply actions
Whoops.
This article’s fine. The worse/ worst comment was for Phil’s article below this one.
by Seanny Rotten on Apr 30, 2010 12:14 PM PDT up reply actions
Figures
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
by Phil Gurnee on Apr 30, 2010 12:41 PM PDT up reply actions
This articule does nothing to assuage my fears for 2011-12. Please — I want to feel better! I wanna be sedated!!
The Ultimate Ned's Kind of Guy
Seriously...
Who can replace Manny on the market?
by robotmadeofnails on Apr 30, 2010 11:20 AM PDT up reply actions
If I were Ned
I’d offer Pujols $300 MM for 10 years. And then go double down with BALCO to find some high-speed anti-aging serum to stave off the impending regression.
by Seanny Rotten on Apr 30, 2010 11:22 AM PDT up reply actions
Bill James made a hilarious reply to the anti-steroids campaign that basically stated “the only thing steroids do is lengthen a player’s prime years, so why are we against it?”
It made sense in the way that cavemen used to eat each others’ brains to gain their power
http://dingers.wordpress.com
what?
the Bill James statement and your caveman metaphor don’t make any sense to me.
by Seanny Rotten on Apr 30, 2010 12:17 PM PDT up reply actions
You referenced BALCO and an anti-aging serum, which is technically what steroids are, according to Bill James
http://dingers.wordpress.com
Ok . . .
but what’s the connection between that and the cavemen comment?
by Seanny Rotten on Apr 30, 2010 12:40 PM PDT up reply actions
Players taking steroids : extends their prime years :: cavemen : eating another caveman’s brains gives you his powers
http://dingers.wordpress.com
But players taking steroids DOES extend their prime years. It does so at too great a cost — a player’s long-term health — and requires young players to make unreasonable choices and it’s illegal and there are all sorts of reasons why we don’t want to let players do it, but it does extend their prime years.
Cavemen thought that eating another’s brain would give him their powers, but it doesn’t.
The Ultimate Ned's Kind of Guy
by Humma Kavula on Apr 30, 2010 12:53 PM PDT up reply actions
Cavemen thought that eating another’s brain would give him their powers, but it doesn’t.
How do we know it doesn’t? I think the nerds just convinced the Caveman to stop doing it so they could live.
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
by Phil Gurnee on Apr 30, 2010 1:18 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
Eating brain no give powers say me.
Me say before and me say again. Do not eat me brain. Eat me brain will be futile effort say me.
The Ultimate Ned's Kind of Guy
by Humma Kavula on Apr 30, 2010 1:30 PM PDT up reply actions
But steroids work and eating brains don't ...
As for steroids having a long-term negative health consequence, Bob Clapp would like to disagree with you. He’s 72 years old and doing fine. He’s been using steroids for over 40 years. Does steroids ABUSE cause problems? Oh hell yes. But use like ballplayers were? Proper cycling on and off will not cause health problems.
by Seanny Rotten on Apr 30, 2010 1:14 PM PDT up reply actions
here, let me rephrase:
Bill James’ rationalization for taking steroids :: Cavemen’s rationalization for eating each others’ brains.
Either way, I wasn’t poaching to make some point about steroids
http://dingers.wordpress.com
But steroids really work ...
and if not abused don’t negatively affect health and actually help your health.
by Seanny Rotten on Apr 30, 2010 2:23 PM PDT up reply actions
I love this,
It made sense in the way that cavemen used to eat each others’ brains to gain their power
Kind of sums up how this last week has gone from Ned’s Nuttiness to Matt’s Lack of Muster to Dre’s Dud Drumming of the bat. How can you go from making the offense look “so easy a caveman can do it” to playing like an ameba trying to find food. From the outside, it sure seems like decisions are made like the above quote implies. I know I’m in no way as intelligent about the game and it’s workings as the experts who run this team are but it sure seems like decisions are made while only looking at the quick cheap fix and to hell with the future.
What is it going to take? It appears we have no depth and the bench players are mediocre again so really, we really have to be firing on all cylinders to get a win? If we are waiting for that, perhaps we are the ‘10 Nationals. I refuse to believe that now that I’ve gotten in off my chest. I seriously believed that we have a ok chance this year but there’s not much to really believe in right now. (que jacked up “Don’t Stop Believin’ song”).
by RawhideBlue on Apr 30, 2010 12:34 PM PDT up reply actions
So I guess the mantra
the kids will step up, won’t fly anymore(:
How about we have enough to worry about this year so we why waste energy on next year. Enjoy Spawn now, don’t worry about how she will hate you in fourteen years.
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
by Phil Gurnee on Apr 30, 2010 11:24 AM PDT up reply actions
Whats funny is the Braves
are going through the exact same struggles as us right now. 17 runs during their 9 game losing streak
by SeanMillerSavior on Apr 30, 2010 11:21 AM PDT reply actions
Yes we are both in the same boat
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
by Phil Gurnee on Apr 30, 2010 11:25 AM PDT up reply actions
Too soon for a Deepwater Horizon Oil Rig joke?
and on the 93rd postseason of the National Hockey League, the Slovakian-hockeygod Zeus commanded from high atop Mount Figueroa..."RELEASE THE MEAT TRAIN!" And it was good.
by DodgerBlueBalls on Apr 30, 2010 1:29 PM PDT up reply actions
I imagined so; I was trying for a little different effect.
Logan White as the Professor?
The commenter formerly known as El Lay Dave.
Jamie McCourt as Ginger?
Nancy Bea as Mrs. Howell?
Ned as Gilligan
by Eric Stephen on Apr 30, 2010 1:35 PM PDT up reply actions
I would pay $20 to see Kim Ng call Ned Colletti "Lil' buddy"
The Ultimate Ned's Kind of Guy
by Humma Kavula on Apr 30, 2010 1:37 PM PDT up reply actions
Ned strikes me as the Skipper
Ginger will file a lawsuit against you for such a defamation
We know one thing, Frank is not Mr. Howell
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
I was always a Mary Ann man myself, so I didn’t want to sully her name.
I figure Ginger would need $1 million a month these days
by Eric Stephen on Apr 30, 2010 1:38 PM PDT up reply actions
Maybe Joe Torre should be Mr. Howell.
Larry Bowa guesting as a headhunter?
The commenter formerly known as El Lay Dave.
If Joe Torre is Mr. Howell
Ramon Troncoso is Lovey.
The Ultimate Ned's Kind of Guy
by Humma Kavula on Apr 30, 2010 1:42 PM PDT up reply actions
Wow, that’s insane the affect he has on them. I think it’s all just a mental thing. With Manny out, maybe Kemp and Ethier feel they have to ‘take over’ his role and press too much. Whatever it is, I hope that in the short term Manny comes back soon and they start mashing again, and in the long term that Kemp and Ethier figure out how to hit without a Manny in the lineup.
Well, the pitch/PA stats showing Ethier seeing less pitches than usual that are in your FanPost might be an indication of pressing.
The commenter formerly known as El Lay Dave.
by David Young on Apr 30, 2010 11:33 AM PDT up reply actions
What are the chances
the Dodgers DON’T offer Manny arbitration? While his salary is 7.3MM this year, isn’t that only because he deferred his entire $45MM over five years? So wouldn’t his arbitration figure he $20MM? What are the chances he gets anything near that in free agency? What are the chances if we offer arbitration, we don’t offer $16MM and get it? Would he be worth $16MM next year??
Oh man I have so many questions! It doesn’t seem Ned and the owner ever have any. They seem to have a slap-dash style about them where they are never looking past a half season.
by Seanny Rotten on Apr 30, 2010 11:34 AM PDT up reply actions
I'd say the chances are 100% they do not offer arbitration
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
by Phil Gurnee on Apr 30, 2010 11:35 AM PDT up reply actions
0% chance
Manny gets offered arb. But yes, the salary used to compare would be $20 million
by Eric Stephen on Apr 30, 2010 11:38 AM PDT via mobile up reply actions
Well ...
we should offer it, and then based on how he does this season, we can offer him $16MM. But your’e right, if they won’t offer it to two guys who were going to demand way less than $10MM, no way will they pony up $16MM.
FRANK McCOURT YOU SUCK!!
by Seanny Rotten on Apr 30, 2010 12:19 PM PDT up reply actions
Fortunately
no decision about offering arb has to made until after the season is over. At that point, we can see how well Manny’s legs have held up over the season, how much more his defense declines in LF, how much he can still hit, etc. Until then, judging whether or not he should be offered arb is premature
The commenter formerly known as El Lay Dave.
Does Manny have any kind of clause in his contract stating that the Dodgers will not offer arb? Do we know?
The Ultimate Ned's Kind of Guy
by Humma Kavula on Apr 30, 2010 1:24 PM PDT up reply actions
The 20% cut clause does not apply to free agents. It only applies to 4-6th year players.
That said, Manny’s arbitration number, especially if he has a good year, will be in the ~$15m range minimum.
by Eric Stephen on Apr 30, 2010 1:27 PM PDT up reply actions
$15MM for one more year of Manny
would be totally sweet!!
I still can’t believe the Dodgers made no offers to the Wolf or O-Dog.
by Seanny Rotten on Apr 30, 2010 2:24 PM PDT up reply actions
The sabermetrician inside of me
has a hard time believing this because there hasn’t been any evidence of a protection effect.
I lean that way too
But man the numbers are eye popping
Also, Ethier has batted directly in front if or behind Manny in 114 of the 143 games they have started together
by Eric Stephen on Apr 30, 2010 11:35 AM PDT via mobile up reply actions
Stats are stats
but we will certainly find out next year if they can produce at elite levels if we don’t replace Manny with anything substantial.
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
by Phil Gurnee on Apr 30, 2010 11:39 AM PDT up reply actions
Yikes
This is an interesting comment. Next year without Manny, if those stats about Kemp and Ethier hold, the Dodgers are in for a slide.
What substantial OF will be available next year?
And, does the team have the money to sign him?
It’s even more evidence that they have to go for it this year, even if the odds of success are low. 2011-12 is probably going to be a struggle, so it makes to sell off some of the new talent coming in those years to get pieces for this year.
by MartinGreen on Apr 30, 2010 12:10 PM PDT up reply actions
I agree with the "go for it this year" approach
but it’s kind of too late. The Dodgers have cast their lot and we go to war with this team. I don’t think they’re as bad as they’re playing, but they’ve dug a hole for themselves that I fear will affect the final outcome.
I wish I knew what to do, but I don’t see the move the Dodgers can make now for 2010 that will both (a) really change the outcome for the better in 2010 and (b) not make the team worse in 2013 when they might be good again.
The Ultimate Ned's Kind of Guy
by Humma Kavula on Apr 30, 2010 12:14 PM PDT up reply actions
Yes, go for broke
Do whatever is necessary to get that last starter and, a lower priority, a hitting second baseman – just leave Kemp, Ethier, Kershaw and Brox alone.
I love talking trade BS
But be specific. What do you see as “whatever is necessary?” Who is available now, one month into the season? What could you reasonably be expected to give up to get that player? And would that player really be such a game-changer that the 8-14 Dodgers can come back to make the playoffs — the only result that would make such a trade worth it?
I think the Dodgers will start playing better, but I am also preparing myself for the worst:
a) if the Dodgers DON’T start playing better, they will be sellers, not buyers; and
b) if they are sellers, as someone pointed out last week, they should think seriously about selling their two best chits that are not superstars: Broxton and Ethier.
The Ultimate Ned's Kind of Guy
by Humma Kavula on Apr 30, 2010 12:31 PM PDT up reply actions
Dodgers won't be sellers
I simply don’t believe the McCourts can afford that, we will go the Astro route and hope we do what the Astro’s always seem to do which is make a bizarre 2nd half runs.
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
by Phil Gurnee on Apr 30, 2010 12:46 PM PDT up reply actions
Yay. We're the Astros.
Better than being the Royals, I suppose.
But not much.
The Ultimate Ned's Kind of Guy
by Humma Kavula on Apr 30, 2010 12:59 PM PDT up reply actions
Having been the one to make the smartass comment, I decided to look it up.
The Bagwell-Biggio Astros had a fair bit of success starting in the late 1990s. They made four trips to the playoffs in five years, though they lost the LDS each time.
Then, in ‘04, they went to the NLCS, losing 4-3 to the Cardinals, and in ’05, they went to the World Series, getting swept out by the White Sox. Since then, of course, the story has not been so good. They’ve been content to win mid-80-ish games and miss the playoffs.
Compare to the Royals, whose last trip to the playoffs was their World Series victory in 1985. They are 25 years and counting without a playoff trip. They have one winning season since realignment in the mid-90s.
I’ll grant you that the Royals have had a better opportunity to become great: they could have gone down the Rays path. But they haven’t. If you signed up for a prolonged period of suck, would you trust the current Dodger management to identify, draft, pay the bonuses on the prospects that would lead to the next great Dodger team, and, once in the system, keep and develop those players without trading them for short-term gains? I don’t know that I would.
The Royals path only works if it’s not the Royals path, but the Rays path. I’d rather be the Astros.
The Ultimate Ned's Kind of Guy
by Humma Kavula on Apr 30, 2010 1:58 PM PDT up reply actions
I would trust Logan White to do that
and he did just that. He’s the one who got us Kemp, Bills, Kershaw, Loney (?) and Martin.
by Seanny Rotten on Apr 30, 2010 2:25 PM PDT up reply actions
Sure, White can ID the talent.
Would the Dodgers pay the bonuses?
Would Colletti keep them or trade them for future Casey Blakes?
And even if everything goes right, things can still go wrong: prospects don’t always pan out.
Look, I’m no fan of institutional mediocrity, which is what the Astros have signed up for. Season after season of 83 wins has gotta get old. But it’s better than season after season of 60 wins.
The Ultimate Ned's Kind of Guy
by Humma Kavula on Apr 30, 2010 2:27 PM PDT up reply actions
Hoping Erik, Phil, David and Mike would know
I think you think I know something.
Well, here goes – As I mentioned, I would never lose Kemp, Ethier, Kershaw or Brox. After that, I would prefer to keep Furcal, and the relievers Tron, Bel, and Kuo, along with Padilla, Kuroda and Weaver. That gives me pitchers which I think are the mainstay of any team.
I would definitely trade Martin, Loney, Blake, Sherrill. The remainder of the 25 man roster is for minds a lot deeper than mine.
I think that this topic.would make a great thread BTW.
Misery loves company?
Per Roto Arcade:
The White Sox broke through for seven runs in Texas – led by Paul Konerko’s(notes) two homers – but Juan Pierre(notes) wasn’t part of the party. The veteran outfielder went 0-for-5, dropping his paltry line to .200/.261/.200 – and Ozzie Guillen has seen enough. Pierre will be benched for Friday’s game, and starting on Saturday, Pierre will bat ninth in the order, at least temporarily.
“We have a couple of righties [pitching Saturday and Sunday], move him down to the No. 9 spot to make him relax a little bit,” Guillen told the team’s official site. “I don’t know if he’s putting a lot of pressure on himself or trying to do too much, but I’ll try and give him a breather, [maybe] bat him second, I don’t know. Try and figure out who my leadoff hitter will be. Maybe it will let him relax a little bit.”
BABIP explanation for Ethier
Might be because he’s faced more left-handed pitchers since Manny left? Would make a lot of sense.
Also, I wrote this
http://dingers.wordpress.com
Not near a computer now
But I played around with Ethier’s numbers, seeing what they would be with equal BABIPs. I think I set his BABIP to .304 and added or subtracted doubles and triples as needed, and it was still something like a .934 OPS with Manny and .844 without.
by Eric Stephen on Apr 30, 2010 11:46 AM PDT via mobile reply actions
Once upon a time
we’d been giddy over an .844 OPS from 3.5
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
by Phil Gurnee on Apr 30, 2010 11:52 AM PDT up reply actions
Once upon a time?! Today!!
Andre’s OPS last year was 869. 2008 was 885. 2007 was 802. If Andre does 844, that’s right in line with his career. OK, I don’t know that I’d be “giddy,” but I’d say “sounds about right.”
The Ultimate Ned's Kind of Guy
by Humma Kavula on Apr 30, 2010 11:55 AM PDT up reply actions
My expectations have risen
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
by Phil Gurnee on Apr 30, 2010 11:58 AM PDT up reply actions
which just means I've set myself up for my own disappointment
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
by Phil Gurnee on Apr 30, 2010 11:59 AM PDT up reply actions
Fair enough.
The Ultimate Ned's Kind of Guy
by Humma Kavula on Apr 30, 2010 12:01 PM PDT up reply actions
Ooo, that’s cool. Was that this year or career?
Ethier’s faced nothing but lefties since Manny went on the DL, both starters and relievers. Olson, Santana, Burress and Perez. Then, in relief, Feliciano, Taschner, Haketashi, etc.
His slash for those five games: .214/.353/.286 (.308 BABIP)
His slash against lefties this season: .350/.435/.400 (.389 BABIP)
His career slash against lefties: .255/.322/.383 (.296 BABIP)
My first reaction to seeing this is that he’s normalizing after a hot start against lefties, which was one of the reasons for his domination early.
Although considering his career slash against righties (.305/.379/.529) and how amazing his stats are now against righties (.327/.407/.635), he may just be normalizing period.
http://dingers.wordpress.com
By the way, welcome to TBLA
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
by Phil Gurnee on Apr 30, 2010 12:49 PM PDT up reply actions
When is it time to say
Andre Ethier should be platooned with a lefty masher?
The Ultimate Ned's Kind of Guy
by Humma Kavula on Apr 30, 2010 12:50 PM PDT up reply actions
When we get one
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
by Phil Gurnee on Apr 30, 2010 1:13 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
Those are his starts since August 1, 2008 (Manny’s 1st game with LA)
by Eric Stephen on Apr 30, 2010 1:07 PM PDT up reply actions
I don’t believe in the protection thing, but it kinda makes sense, doesn’t it? With Manny in the line-up, pulling a righty-lefty-right swap against Kemp, Ethier and Manny doesn’t make sense. But without Manny, you just put in a lefty against Ethier and you’re golden.
http://dingers.wordpress.com
Yeah, but that is when
Kemp has to mash, he should destroy LHP
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
“Not near a computer now”…WTF, did you lose your Iphone?
Or just using an abacus for old time’s sake? Slide rule?
by KellyStephen on Apr 30, 2010 1:34 PM PDT up reply actions
I was using my phone
but the numbers were in an Excel file, not near me at the time.
by Eric Stephen on Apr 30, 2010 1:35 PM PDT up reply actions
Abacus?
I have heard something about Eric liking to finger his beads…
The commenter formerly known as El Lay Dave.
He just can’t do it within 2000 yards of any school.
by KellyStephen on Apr 30, 2010 1:39 PM PDT up reply actions 2 recs
Not just the hitting
I’m guessing that Manny has had a few run ins with management. When Coletti made his comment, Manny could have used his experiance to say something to Kemp and settle him down. Not that Kemp would have made that play in center field yesterday talking to Manny, but you never know.
Kemp's defensive decline can be directly attributed to Manny as well
The Bison can’t just graze on 2/3 of the outfield with free reign. He has to worry that the left fielder may actually be sprinting towards the ball :)
Radio spot today at 5:30
I will be a guest on the radio in my hometown of Palm Springs. 1010 KXPS
I’ll put a direct link to the listen live player in a fan shot a bit later.
by Eric Stephen on Apr 30, 2010 12:33 PM PDT via mobile reply actions
Are they going to ask you about the back of the pickup incident from high school?
by KellyStephen on Apr 30, 2010 1:35 PM PDT up reply actions
Wouldn’t be surprised if they somehow knew of it.
by Eric Stephen on Apr 30, 2010 1:38 PM PDT up reply actions
When they ask what is wrong with the Doders be sure to tell them
with a straight face it is Kemp’s defense.
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
Isn’t Jayson Werth a free agent this summer? What would his price be? I know that Phila wants to re sign him but what if he hits the open market can’t he come home to LA?
I’d say somewhere between Raul Ibanez and Jason Bay.
by Eric Stephen on Apr 30, 2010 12:39 PM PDT via mobile up reply actions
Carl Crawford and Jayson Werth
are FA this coming season but the oddsmakers say Crawford to the Yankee’s because they need a LF and Werth to the Red Sox because they need a LF. I doubt we are players.
Any addition to the outfield will probably come via a trade. A trade we will probably regret.
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
by Phil Gurnee on Apr 30, 2010 12:44 PM PDT up reply actions
While missing Manny is a big part of the issue
I think that in combination with missing Furcal, I hear those snickers, who was getting on base and scoring runs before he went out is the bigger picture. We have struggled to replace both of the aging stars. Jamey and GA/Johnson are very poor substitutes for more that a day game after a night game or a couple of innings after a double switch. That being said this team needs to figure out a way to stay afloat until they are back and the lineup returns to Furcal, Kemp, Either, Manny, Blake, Loney, Dewitt, Pitcher Spot.
Loney?
What happened to him hitting for power this year? He’s garbage. The teams who are there at the end all have 1B’s that hit dingers. Even Helton belted 15 last year.
When you throw Pujols and Howard (47 and 45 respectively) it gets even more embarrassing.
We need a first baseman who hits 30+ because relying on Manny is not going to get us very far.
by Joseph Peter Falinski on Apr 30, 2010 1:00 PM PDT up reply actions
Not only is he not hitting for power, he isnt even drawing walks like he used to. He’s almost turning into Juan Pierre as a first baseman.
by UCLADodger32 on Apr 30, 2010 1:03 PM PDT up reply actions
3 million
He’s not worth it. Why don’t we go after Adrian Gonzalez? I don’t think he’ll be a Padre by the end of the season.
by Joseph Peter Falinski on Apr 30, 2010 1:07 PM PDT up reply actions
He’s going to get over $20 mil a year on the open market. No way in hell the McCourts can afford him. Even if the Padres do fall out of contention and we start surging, they would want way too much from us to even do a deal.
by UCLADodger32 on Apr 30, 2010 1:09 PM PDT up reply actions
Cheapest power source in $’s and prospects could be Adam Dunn at the deadline or FA at year end.
Then DFA Loney rather than pay arb money.
The Gonzo, Prince Fielders of the world are FA after NEXT year, so the haul would be prohibitive
We couldn’t afford alot a couple of months ago, so why think we can be players for big money boppers?
I still think Loney is what we thought he was…and hopefully takes a step forward.
SP is the problem at the moment. No talent. Too many starts from Ely, Hauger, and now Monk
1B FA's for 2011
Garrett Atkins (31) – $8.5MM club option with a $500K buyout
Lance Berkman (35) – $15MM club option with a $2MM buyout
Wilson Betemit (29)
Hank Blalock (30)
Russell Branyan (35) – $5MM mutual option
Jorge Cantu (29)
Frank Catalanotto (37)
Adam Dunn (31)
Troy Glaus (34)
Wes Helms (35)
Eric Hinske (33)
Aubrey Huff (34)
Mike Jacobs (30)
Nick Johnson (32) – $5.5MM mutual option with a $250K buyout
Paul Konerko (35)
Adam LaRoche (31)
Derrek Lee (35)
Doug Mientkiewicz (37)
Kevin Millar (39)
Lyle Overbay (34)
Carlos Pena (33)
Albert Pujols (31) – $16MM club option with a $5MM buyout
Fernando Tatis (36)
Chad Tracy (31)
Ty Wigginton (33)
by Joseph Peter Falinski on Apr 30, 2010 1:17 PM PDT up reply actions
I think its feasible
that once the owners sort out the divorce, and if the money is there, they would make a run at Adam Dunn
by SeanMillerSavior on Apr 30, 2010 1:21 PM PDT up reply actions
I like Dunn, but I can’t see Ned Colletti — the guy who ripped Matt Kemp’s defense this week — going and getting him. I’d love to be wrong.
The Ultimate Ned's Kind of Guy
by Humma Kavula on Apr 30, 2010 1:28 PM PDT up reply actions
I wish people would not bring up Adam Dunn
He is not highly regarded by the person making the decision, in this case Ned Colletti. There are a number of players the Dodgers could and would trade for, but Dunn is simply not one of them.
by Eric Stephen on Apr 30, 2010 1:29 PM PDT up reply actions
agreed
Dunn wouldn’t be a good fit. The Northeastern grad in me wants Pena. He’s a monster.
by Joseph Peter Falinski on Apr 30, 2010 1:31 PM PDT up reply actions
We could have had him for nothing
but at least we didn’t have him and give him away like the beasts from the east. He’s our Jayson Werth.
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
Adrians gonna be a 18-20 mil a year player
Until the divorce is resolved i doubt we make any significant moves
by SeanMillerSavior on Apr 30, 2010 1:09 PM PDT up reply actions
We knew what we were getting with Loney…hopefully 13 hrs and .300/360/.400
That’s still attainable
The plan was to offset it with power from 3 OFs and we’ll have that May 7th -ish
1B can only be addressed at the deadline or off-season maybe.
Tell me why Torre bats a singles/doubles hitter with no power 4th or 5th, tho?
I agree
I think Furcal is a spark plug. To me, Manny is more than a hitter. He’s not a father figure, but he is a crazy uncle that makes the day by day more interesting.
Small sample size, but James Loney has some weird stats
.287 / .309 / .351 (like Juan Pierre as UclaDodger32 said above)
despite:
- .360 BABIP
- 34.7 Line Drive % (!)
His 41.3 GB% is in keeping with his career norms, so the LD are mostly replacing fly balls (24.0z% compared to ~35% career).
The commenter formerly known as El Lay Dave.
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