Roy Oswalt is Available: Can the Dodgers Afford Him?
by Eric Stephen on May 22, 2010 8:52 AM PDT
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PrintIn news that has perked up the ears of Dodger fans everywhere, Roy Oswalt has formally requested a trade from the Astros. Per Bernardo Fallas of the Houston Chronicle:
Asked if Oswalt had demanded a trade, [general manager Ed] Wade said: "I’m going to put my tongue in my cheek and say that Roy’s contract includes a no-trade clause, not a trade-me clause. There is no rule that allows a player in his contract status to demand a trade. Demand, request ... it’s all the same and duly noted."
He declined to discuss the issue further.
[Drayton] McLane is not disappointed by Oswalt’s request.
"No. Roy is like I am. Those of you that have known me for 18 years, do I want to win? Do I want to be a champion? Absolutely," McLane said. "And they want to win. So they want to know which direction we’re headed, and that’s something we’ve got to consider."
Oswalt, 32, has thrown a quality start in all nine starts this year, and has a 2.66 ERA and 3.48 FIP. He has averaged over six and a half innings per start for his career, and for six of the last seven years. He has a career 135 ERA+, the fifth highest among active pitchers with 1,000 innings. Oswalt is certainly a front line starter, but he also comes at a front line price.
Per the indispensable Cot's Contracts, we see that Oswalt is making $15 million this year and $16 million next year, and he has a club option for $16 million in 2012, with a $2 million buyout. If Oswalt is acquired at the July 31 trading deadline, he would have roughly $5.2 million left on his 2010 salary. That means he would have approximately $23.2 million left on his contract. He also has a no-trade clause, so don't be surprised if a condition for waiving that clause is to guarantee the option. That increases the guaranteed money due Oswalt to $37.2 million.
The Dodger payroll this season is approximately $96 million, after $110 million last season. In acquiring George Sherrill, Ronnie Belliard, and Jim Thome in 2009, the Dodgers added $2.3 million to the payroll during the season. Next season, the estimated payroll is at $92 million, and that's without replacements for Manny Ramirez or Hiroki Kuroda. The payroll estimate does include $6.5 million for George Sherrill through arbitration, a sum that screams "non-tender," so there could be some flexibility to add Oswalt's $16 million salary. Still, I remain skeptical that the Dodgers will take on this kind of a salary, but I would love to be pleasantly surprised.
The Astros, with the worst record in the National League, could pay a portion of Oswalt's contract as well to add prospects, or as the Dodgers call it, "pulling a Pierre." The Dodgers agreed to pay $10.5 million of the $18.5 million owed Juan Pierre, and got new sensation John Ely (and Jon Link) from the White Sox in return. Maybe if the Astros pay a large portion of Oswalt's salary, they could get their own John Ely. Maybe even Ely!
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No way. Unless they’re stupid enough to include Domonic Brown, their system otherwise doesn’t have the parts to do it.
no.
You trade for Oswalt, you’ll just be leaving yourself open to the same rotation problems next year, and without the prospects to fill in.
Just curious
what prospects do you expect to fill in in 2011?
I recognize there is a cost for Oswalt, and a valid argument can be made that the cost — in money or prospects — is too high. However…
Oswalt-Kershaw-Billingsley as the top three
does not present nearly the “same rotation problems” as:
Kershaw-Billingsley-VeteranX as the top three
by Eric Stephen on May 22, 2010 9:13 AM PDT up reply actions
Eric makes a good point there.
I’d be curious as to what the Astros would be looking for — our AAA pitchers, who theoretically should be close to the majors but have tons of issues, or the younger, higher upside group several years away.
Yeah, that will be the key…just what is the Astros’ strategy here? It seems they will want at least one MLB-ready guy as the face of the deal, as the organization appears unwilling to do anything except put forth the illusion of competing. So that means someone like McDonald or Ely at the front, with others behind them.
by Eric Stephen on May 22, 2010 9:21 AM PDT up reply actions
It's Ed Wade and Drayton Moore
McDonald + Ely + DeWitt or Loney sounds more their speed than asking for our farm system. Heck, I can see Wade targeting Furcal.
by Little Blue Bicycle on May 22, 2010 9:37 AM PDT up reply actions
Is it wrong that I'm protective of Ely?
He’s our little engine that could, god dammit!
They say to never hit a man with a closed fist. But it is, on occasion, hilarious.
Nope, I heart every guy I named, but I’d do it for Oswalt.
by Little Blue Bicycle on May 22, 2010 9:48 AM PDT up reply actions
But for what it’s worth, I bet this goes down like Halladay, in the off season, for less than they will get this summer. As I said on DT, Wade will find a way to botch it.
by Little Blue Bicycle on May 22, 2010 9:50 AM PDT up reply actions
You sign Oswalt, you won’t have Kuroda. And you also won’t have McDonald, Ely, Elbert, or Withrow to kick around in Phil’s minor league threads.
You seem to be equating Oswalt and Kuroda. I’m trying to figure out why.
There is a clear upgrade.
by Eric Stephen on May 22, 2010 9:26 AM PDT up reply actions
Paying Oswalt 16 million for next year and giving up prospects while allowing Kuroda to leave?
We’d be looking to fill up two rotation spots again, signing a guy like Padilla or Ortiz to do it. And for a guy who has similar peripherals as Kuroda has for his years in the league. Oswalt’s been trending downwards since since 2007 and you’re going to allow 61 innings of starting pitching in 2010 to tell you that he’s suddenly the ace he was before 2007?
Yes, its an upgrade from Kuroda, but I doubt its an upgrade of what Kuroda+Ely+Withrow+Elbert+McDonald can give to the team for the next several years and beyond.
We’d be looking to fill up two rotation spots again, signing a guy like Padilla or Ortiz to do it.
You spend countless number of comments complaining about Colletti constantly blocking young players, and now all of a sudden your argument is that we can’t do this deal because it would keep young players out of the rotation?
I have news for you: whether Billingsley and Kershaw are joined by Kuroda or Oswalt, we still have two spots to fill, and what indication do you have that those spots won’t be filled by Padilla/Ortiz again anyway?
by Eric Stephen on May 22, 2010 9:43 AM PDT up reply actions
Because eventually both Torre and Ned won’t be around. While we can’t know what Mattingly really wants in a team until he is actually managing, I’m still going to assume he isn’t as quick to say that veterans should play over young players, or that young players have to be perfect in order to play.
Also, the payroll is already pretty high. Eventually Ned has to play pre-arbitration players to fill out the roster instead of signing veterans to do it like the last two spots of the rotation if he wants to keep this team together.
The payroll is not already high
it is $16 Million below a level that McCourt once courted. When you say “high” do you mean “high” compared to what you think McCourt can afford? If so I’d say we don’t have any idea what he can afford.
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
by Phil Gurnee on May 22, 2010 10:31 AM PDT up reply actions
How about will pay? And that payroll in 2008 contained so many deferrals of contracts that we will still pay players until 2014.
Do you think the Dodgers will do that with the current players, give them so many dollars in deferrals that it will impact the payroll of later years?
I think we can’t defer at this point, we’ve already got somewhere around 75 million in 2012 tied up, and more in 2013 if we don’t want to repeat 2005 and buy a new team. Unless we have a ton of prospects we didn’t expect to pan out, the payroll is already high for the near future.
Then again, Ned could just assume he’ll be fired by then and make it someone elses problem.
by regfairfield on May 22, 2010 10:41 AM PDT up reply actions
I have no idea what will happen with the payroll
and I don’t think anyone else does either. To many variables involved with our current ownership and possible future ownership. For all we know Ned kept the payroll at this level just in case he had the opportunity to bring in an Oswalt. The writing was kind of clear that Houston would suck and that he might be made available even if Houston has never traded studs for prospects.
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
by Phil Gurnee on May 22, 2010 10:42 AM PDT up reply actions
Do quite understand your comment
the big deferrals came in the winter of 2009 when we restructured A Jones contract, signed Manny to the huge deferred contract. From 2008 who is still being paid in 2014 on deferral that was part of the original contract?
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
by Phil Gurnee on May 22, 2010 10:46 AM PDT up reply actions
Do you think I'm too tough on them?
And you also won’t have McDonald, Ely, Elbert, or Withrow to kick around in Phil’s minor league threads.
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
by Phil Gurnee on May 22, 2010 10:34 AM PDT up reply actions
Isn't Kuroda a free agent after this season?
and Oswalt isn’t? I don’t get the equation there either.
(And I’m one who doesn’t see this happening either, though it’s interesting to muse on.)
There's no need to fear, Underdog is here! / Broncos/Dodgers/Lakers fan in Niners/Raiders/Giants/Warriors country, and damned proud of it.
Oswalt
We don’t have a chance. Mccourt isn’t going to spend the money and the Astros aren’t paying his entire salary even if we include the whole farm system. Besides, other teams have better prospects than us.
I’m much more willing to trade prospects for a top pitcher who is under contract for two (and maybe three) seasons, than just for someone who will be gone in after a couple of months.
It’s not just “win it all” once, but rather improving the team in multiple years.
This is fair
But I’m still against it. My reasoning is that I like our top three, and I’m not keen on parting with minor league talent from a system that needs to restock instead of cash in. Combine that with the fact our young cheap talent is getting anything but cheap and we have to continue developing players from within rather than bringing them from elsewhere. I like Oswalt, but I worry his dominant days are over. He’s very good, but is he that much better than Kuroda/Kershaw/Bills? I’m firmly in the anti-Oswalt camp.
Got this from MCC
In their last two starts:
Timmy: 13 IP, 6 ER, 10 BB
Zeets: 13.2 IP, 9 ER, 2 BB
Matt: 12.2 IP, 7 ER, 11 BB
Durty: 14 IP, 5 ER, 1 BB
Crazy ’Ol Wellemeyer: 12.1 IP, 7 ER, 7 BB
Pitching hasn’t been too good there, huh?
They say to never hit a man with a closed fist. But it is, on occasion, hilarious.
Thats not that bad
But with their hitting being what it is they can’t win that way.
Rudimentary creatures of flesh and blood, you touch my mind, fumbling in ignorance, incapable of understanding.
I’m A DODGER fan and i want to win too. So I Dont Blame Him For Wanting To Be Traded. If Frank McCourt Hires His Wife Back Then Mabe They Could Afford Oswalt, Oh Ya And If Houston Pays Most Of His Remaning Contract. Like What Happend In 2008. We Need A Ace To Go Up Against Lincum and roy hallady. Otherwise the dodgers should just trade manny. we must win Now!!!! SO GO FOR IT WHAT
OLDIES RULE FOREVER
by Angels suck Dodgers Rule on May 22, 2010 9:50 AM PDT reply actions
Yeah but
I think we kinda need Manny and his bat for the offseason.
They say to never hit a man with a closed fist. But it is, on occasion, hilarious.
I meant POSTseason
Damn you, sake. Damn you to hell.
They say to never hit a man with a closed fist. But it is, on occasion, hilarious.
i see you have alot of friends, how cute
OLDIES RULE FOREVER
by Angels suck Dodgers Rule on May 22, 2010 10:58 PM PDT up reply actions
Is this a parody post?
Rudimentary creatures of flesh and blood, you touch my mind, fumbling in ignorance, incapable of understanding.
Manny Will Be Gone Next Year. They Said It Before He Makes The Linup More Better. We Have To Get Oswalt If Not THe yankees will. THIS IS OUR YEAR
OLDIES RULE FOREVER
by Angels suck Dodgers Rule on May 22, 2010 9:56 AM PDT reply actions
I’m fascinated by your capitalization of all the individual words. It’s not like you can just hit caps lock – what you did takes extra effort.
by JonWeisman on May 22, 2010 9:58 AM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
Thats the risk you take
When you aren’t willing to commit to caps lock.
Rudimentary creatures of flesh and blood, you touch my mind, fumbling in ignorance, incapable of understanding.
Maybe They Are Using The Sentence Case Tool
on Some HTML Programs. But that would also take some knowledge of such a program’s existence. SO IT IS IMPRESSIVE. To See Caps Used With So Much Effort. For No Real Effect.
There's no need to fear, Underdog is here! / Broncos/Dodgers/Lakers fan in Niners/Raiders/Giants/Warriors country, and damned proud of it.
+1
I know. It’s like … truly astonishing. I thought in his first post he was speaking of the Lord when he capitalized He / His, etc. I mean, He wants to be traded? Far out!!!!
by Seanny Rotten on May 22, 2010 7:45 PM PDT up reply actions
ha ha ha
OLDIES RULE FOREVER
by Angels suck Dodgers Rule on May 22, 2010 10:26 PM PDT up reply actions
Let's examine the market
Large Market teams:
Yankees:
Expense – can afford it
Need – Well, if they jettisoned Vasquez but not really
Prospects – aside from Montero ©, most of their prospects are in lower levels.
Red Sox:
Expense – probably near the top end of their budget
Need – not really
Prospects – N/A
Mets:
Expense – doubtful
Need – Yes
Prospects – Best ones are on MLB club
Phillies:
Expense – again, near top of budget plus they want to sign Werth at the end of the year
Need – No hitter aside, Meyer and Kendrick are in the back of your rotation
Prospects – well its hard to imagine them having some but they still have Brown
Cubs:
Expense – new ownership, maybe but current record could make them wait
Need – Sure but their rotation is full and messed up
Prospects – Castro is already up but they need them more than they need Oswalt
I’ll come back with my list of possible contenders
Contenders
Cardinals – have the need, money would be huge issue with Pujols on their mind.
Braves – Need more consistent offense but injuries and ineffectiveness in their rotation is hurting them too, budget and prospects remain an issue.
Rockies – can’t see Oswalt approving a trade to Coors
In many ways, the Dodgers would appear to be the best fit, they have a need, they probably can afford it and if the Astros would take one of the AAA guys to fill in their rotation and then probably a package including a combination of Gordon, Withrow and Martin, it might get done.
by bhsportsguy on May 22, 2010 10:21 AM PDT up reply actions
Why about the angels or rangers?
by LA Taco on May 22, 2010 10:43 AM PDT via mobile up reply actions
Angels
Filled up in the rotation.
Rangers, can’t see Ryan dealing prospects plus ownership issue probably stops them for making this kind of deal.
by bhsportsguy on May 22, 2010 10:53 AM PDT up reply actions
They won't get 3 of our top 5 prospects for him
That’s for sure. But maybe one or possibly two of our top 5 along with another top 10 and then a fringe prospect as a throw in could do it.
Mcdonald
Gordon
Eovaldi
Robinson/Van Slyke
Guerra
Possibly something like that? Or am I way off base?
Oh man ...
I have faith we can teach Gordon to walk a little more and K a little less.
I also have faith Eovaldi’s control will continue to improve. I think this is just too rich. Of course, I never want to let go of any prospects – look how well Josh Bell’s doing!
by Seanny Rotten on May 22, 2010 7:49 PM PDT up reply actions
What's funny to me
is that because prospects don’t always pan out, you’re basically trading somewhat established hope for an established player. So from that angle, I can see why it’s no big deal to trade prospects. If that makes sense. At all.
They say to never hit a man with a closed fist. But it is, on occasion, hilarious.
I’ll go out on a limb here and say that for a guy like Oswalt, McCourt will swallow hard and find the money. (Maybe Jamie can help out w/her new venture, whatever the fuck her website is supposed to be.)
I don’t believe that the Astros will pay a part of the salary, unless it’s to get more prospects. This is different than the Pierre deal in that we were stuck w/his salary and didn’t want/need him and paying only a part of his salary was better than paying damn near all of it if we released him. I don’t see the Astros in the same situation and therefore have more options.
But what will the Dodgershave to give up in the way of prospects? That’s the bigger question for me. I’ll go on record as saying I’m okay with giving up some prospects for a top of the rotation guy like Oswalt. It’s not like we’re looking for a 2nd baseman or a reliever.
I don't see this happening until we know what the situation is Padilla
One thing I am fairly sure is that they don’t think anyone in the minors is ready to help this year (we’ll see how long the magic dust last on Ely).
But then, unless something changes, even the best in the system (Withrow, Martin, Miller) are maybe 2012 so I think they could think about this kind of deal.
And if I can throw in some legal intrigue, though totally unrelated and not evidence, a move like this would help Frank McCourt’s image and contention that the divorce is not affecting the team’s finances.
by bhsportsguy on May 22, 2010 10:11 AM PDT up reply actions
Good point on the Night Stalker. But the way he’s been pitching this year what kind of help is he going to provide if he comes back?
Hadn’t thought about the PR side of this…I think you are on to something here.
by KellyStephen on May 22, 2010 10:17 AM PDT up reply actions
It's not so much help
I just think they will try to hang on until mid-June, if Padilla doesn’t recover or if Ely is a pumpkin, the Dodgers will have more reason to make that deal.
by bhsportsguy on May 22, 2010 10:23 AM PDT up reply actions
If Ely is a pumpkin
you will have lost the chance to sell at the highest value he will ever have. The sooner you get Oswalt the better, with each five days you wait, you lose that start.
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
by Phil Gurnee on May 22, 2010 10:25 AM PDT up reply actions
You know that early
BA reports had his velocity in the low 90s.
by bhsportsguy on May 22, 2010 10:34 AM PDT up reply actions
You know that early BA Reports of Greg Miller
said he had the best stuff they ever saw.
Is your point that you think Ely is all of the sudden going to regain that velocity? If so will he regain it and keep his impeccable control? If so we he regain it and keep the movement he currently has?
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
by Phil Gurnee on May 22, 2010 10:36 AM PDT up reply actions
I was just noting it
As he advanced, it never was that high again.
“He doesn’t have the kind of pure stuff that excites scouts, but he has outstanding makeup and a history of winning.”
“Ely’s lack of consistent 90 mph fastball makes scouts doubt he can succeed against elite hittes but his mid-70s changeup is an equalizer.”
“His command usually improves as the season goes on.”
2010 BA Prospect Report – White Sox #12
by bhsportsguy on May 22, 2010 10:50 AM PDT up reply actions
Let Sherrill walk, sign Oswalt, and you’re only 6 million above this year’s payroll, and still under 2009. I agree, that’s probably doable. On the other hand that also consigns you to X Paul in left field, and you still need a #4 starter from who’s left.
by Little Blue Bicycle on May 22, 2010 10:20 AM PDT up reply actions
As I said in the thread that started all this
the Astro’s do not have money problems they have crappy player problems up and down the system. They need to restock and restock big. I don’t see why they would not be willing to pay all of Oswalts salary for this season and 1/2 for 2011 if we include the right prospects for them.
They Need:
1st – to replace Berkman
2nd – they have nothing
SS – they have nothing
3rd – they have nothing
C – some decent backup types, no starters
OF – is filled, no need, but they could use better backups then Michael
SP – they need lots of it
RP – they could always use some good young arms
What I’d Offer:
To me the offer must include
Gordon / Ely to get their attention, and George Sherrill for the salary relief
The only players I would not trade are Withrow, Martin, Jansen, and Webster
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
Two points:
1) Ely is the real deal (not a pumpkin) and it’d be sad to let him go. But if he’s the only young pitcher involved, I’d do it.
2) You should add Aaron Miller to that list. It’s safe to say he’s the only LHP in the system with a real future as a Dodger starter. That’s very valuable.
by silverwidow on May 22, 2010 10:31 AM PDT up reply actions
Come now
Ely is the “real deal” after so few starts? Do you have any idea the number of kids who have started off strong for one or two months or even a full year and that was the extent of their major league success?
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
by Phil Gurnee on May 22, 2010 10:44 AM PDT up reply actions
I was saying this before he even debuted.
by silverwidow on May 22, 2010 10:48 AM PDT up reply actions
Does it matter if Padilla comes back healthy
before a decesion would be made? If he doesn’t come back, and we trade Ely, we are in the same boat. Granted we have a better #4 for now, but
Don't know what happened there...
I was saying if we dealt Ely, we would have a better #4 this year and better #3 next year as RO would be under contract next year as well. That puts us with RO, CK, Bills, and the same boat that we were in this year.
Doesn’t it feel like we should take a stab at right now? With Manny here, this is our best chance at making the World Series. Let’s take a gamble on Oswalt that gives us a rotation 1-4 of Kershaw, Oswalt, Billingsley, Kuroda. After another couple of weeks Padilla will rejoin the rotation and that will be one of the strongest rotations in all of baseball. Don’t you want to see what Oswalt can do in a pitchers park?
Of course this move is also for next year as it will give us a top 3 of Kershaw, Oswalt, and Billingsley for 2011. I like the Dodgers chances with that top 3 than the Mariners rotation this year with Felix and Lee heading it, and people were extremely high on their rotation, and it still had a bunch of question marks as well.
I am really impressed by his control.
Even if he doesn’t have superhero pitcher capability, wouldn’t that great control carry him pretty far. I mean, his stuff seems decent. Decent velocity, movement, great control…..I think he can be a pretty average to above average guy for a while.
by Ian Capilouto on May 22, 2010 10:54 AM PDT up reply actions
It’s possible, Odalis Perez made a living off of it for years.
by regfairfield on May 22, 2010 10:57 AM PDT up reply actions
As a LHP
Maybe it is just me, but I think some are forgetting that the guys who have made a living with sub par velocity have almost always been LHP, not RHP.
He’s got a great change up but I’m not sure that is the great equalizer once the league knows how to adjust to his stuff.
So yes, I’m enjoying the hell out of Ely right now, but I’m not of the belief he is a long term answer to our rotation unless he’s at the very back end and a plus 4.00 ERA is not a big deal for you guys.
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
by Phil Gurnee on May 22, 2010 11:18 AM PDT up reply actions
LHP
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
by Phil Gurnee on May 22, 2010 11:21 AM PDT up reply actions
Come now
you know he used to hit 95MPH when he was a stud Giant
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
by Phil Gurnee on May 22, 2010 11:23 AM PDT up reply actions
How about Steve Trachsel?
http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/t/trachst01.shtml
There probably aren’t a lot of right handers pitchers who throw under 90 and are starters. Those are the guys who become your fungible relievers if they ever make it to the majors.
Good comp
http://www.fangraphs.com/statss.aspx?playerid=898&position=P
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
by Phil Gurnee on May 22, 2010 11:47 AM PDT up reply actions
Do we want Ely to become Livan?
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
by Phil Gurnee on May 22, 2010 12:57 PM PDT up reply actions
Excellent
forgot we pulled him the other day when looking for comps
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
by Phil Gurnee on May 22, 2010 11:48 AM PDT up reply actions
http://www.fangraphs.com/statss.aspx?playerid=6204&position=P
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
by Phil Gurnee on May 22, 2010 11:50 AM PDT up reply actions
yeah
they are almost the same pitcher in terms of stuff… i really wanna see marcum pitch
by matthewmafa on May 22, 2010 11:56 AM PDT up reply actions
Yeah
but basically unrealistic for 90% of the teams in major league baseball
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
by Phil Gurnee on May 22, 2010 11:24 AM PDT up reply actions
I thought he was hitting 90 on his fastball?
There are lots of successful 90 mph rightys. Am I wrong that he hits 90?
by Ian Capilouto on May 22, 2010 11:33 AM PDT up reply actions
90 is Ely’s limit.
There’s are a lot of pitchers who sit at 90 but can get up to 93-94. Ely’s problem is that he sits around 87-88 and throws hardest at 90-91. Most major leaguers can hit that easily.
Well I wonder where a guy like Derek Lowe sits velocity say
6-7 seasons ago?
by Ian Capilouto on May 22, 2010 11:44 AM PDT up reply actions
Never higher then 89
over his career but then again he was a severe GB pitcher
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
by Phil Gurnee on May 22, 2010 11:46 AM PDT up reply actions
http://www.fangraphs.com/statss.aspx?playerid=199&position=P
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
by Phil Gurnee on May 22, 2010 11:46 AM PDT up reply actions
Thanks for the info.
I am not going to compare Ely to Lowe or Maddux or other guys like that yet. But with his control and command, maybe he can move into that conversation. It wouldbe cool if he could be a Derek Lowe type guy for a few seasons. I also like the magical dust effect that being a Dodger pitcher in Dodger Stadium has.
by Ian Capilouto on May 22, 2010 11:50 AM PDT up reply actions
phil
you think the way ely throws the ball… like with so much effort… helps him?
by matthewmafa on May 22, 2010 11:56 AM PDT up reply actions
I think he's been talking to Billz
“The second you go out there and think, ‘OK, I got to pitch good because my job’s on the line,’ you put doubt in your head that doesn’t need to be there,” Ely said. “If you just go out thinking, ‘OK, well, I’m going to do what I do every single time,’ it seems to work out a little bit better. You can’t doubt yourself or try to put too much pressure on.” from the MLB article previewing today’s game.
They say to never hit a man with a closed fist. But it is, on occasion, hilarious.
Easy to be confident
when you haven’t been Dave Bushed yet. How he reacts after that happens is when it will get interesting.
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
by Phil Gurnee on May 22, 2010 11:32 AM PDT up reply actions
dave bush doesnt have elys change and Command and control...
thats the difference between them too
by matthewmafa on May 22, 2010 11:41 AM PDT up reply actions
You honestly need to take off the prospect glasses
Ely is still an unknown to over half the league, and once people start scouting him more, he most likely won’t be dominating like he has been. I like Ely, but he’s not some stud that came out of nowhere, though I believe he was overrated to start.
This deal will take time to develop
Wade will wait to see if anyone of the contenders has a signifigant starter go down
Then he will have more leverage
This is a way Ned might go about it
by 68elcamino427 on May 22, 2010 12:18 PM PDT up reply actions
I would not trade Withrow, Martin, Webster, Lambo (though not like he’s high on people’s lists right now…just high), possibly Miller, and possibly Sands.
Everyone else is fair game I’d say.
Honestly, I think Jansen would be a huge trade piece, and Houston would love to have someone like him who could be in the majors by next season at the current pace.
untouchables
i have to think withrow/gordon/de jesus are on that list. we need a replacement for furcal and i think once blake leaves de witt will get moved back to 3rd. i’m for the trade if its something like sherill/eovaldi/martin/fringe position player.
earthshake?!?
Rudimentary creatures of flesh and blood, you touch my mind, fumbling in ignorance, incapable of understanding.
Really?
Why do I always miss the earthquakes? :(
They say to never hit a man with a closed fist. But it is, on occasion, hilarious.
I didn’t feel it down here either, so I’m confused.
by regfairfield on May 22, 2010 10:42 AM PDT up reply actions
apparently it's in baja ca
so if anyone is down by san diego…
They say to never hit a man with a closed fist. But it is, on occasion, hilarious.
How big is your cat?
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
by Phil Gurnee on May 22, 2010 10:47 AM PDT up reply actions
Small, but when she wants to go outside
she lets you know. At the moment the tremblor hit, she had her paws up on the couch so it gave me the impression that she was shaking the couch for a second.
Is today's game on fox?
My T.V. guide has UEFA soccer, and Im gonna be pissed If i cant watch Ely pitch for the 1st time
by SeanMillerSavior on May 22, 2010 11:37 AM PDT reply actions
Great 1st half...
Bayern held the ball but they didn’t shown anything…
Inter has been more dangerous than Bayern…
Robben looks so silly without Ribery… Olic and Muller have been shut down by the Inter’s back…
We don’t see Eto’o yet… Sneijder and Milito has been dazzling…
Van Gaal needs to change a little things in the 2nd half to turn around its final…
Amanda Righetti <3
At least no one has ever been this down on the Dodgers
Team fighting for first place loses one game to the Dodgers gets this comment from a Tiger fan:
whole tiger club should be in single ‘A’ ball not ’’AA’’ or ’AAA’’ or amateur!
by ‘’ spiderman ’’ on May 22, 2010 9:06 AM PDT reply actions
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
lol
that comment is a grade ‘A’ “flag”
by Julio Nievas on May 22, 2010 12:01 PM PDT up reply actions
Evidently
Miggy Cabrera is in a mild slump. Good timing for us.
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
Well
at least he continued it for one game.
I thought rookie pitchers turned us into slumping sissies but can you elaborate on the hitters who were slumping who kicked sands in our face this year?
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
by Phil Gurnee on May 22, 2010 11:44 AM PDT up reply actions
It is a well known fact that Tebow can walk on water
http://deadspin.com/5385224/tim-tebow-messiah-watch-transfiguration-edition
Let justice be done, though the world perish.
Would Tim make a good posession reciever?
by 68elcamino427 on May 22, 2010 12:15 PM PDT up reply actions
oh dear God
I thought that was an April Fool’s Joke at first. I’m a Broncos fan and find that embarrassing.
We had a discussion on Mile High Report about usage of the term “Messiah” for him, which is itself a joke. And it lead, thankfully, to many a LIFE OF BRIAN reference.
There's no need to fear, Underdog is here! / Broncos/Dodgers/Lakers fan in Niners/Raiders/Giants/Warriors country, and damned proud of it.
what's really funny
is that Tebow would likely be offended if he heard he was being equated to the Messiah. :)
They say to never hit a man with a closed fist. But it is, on occasion, hilarious.
Nat's are playing 500 ball without
Strasburg and Zimmerman. They just brought up Storen, no team in baseball is going to be adding that kind of talent in the 2nd half of the season. They could actually be competing for 2nd place this year.
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
unless the Dodgers can work the black magic that seems to come with Cliff Lee trades
If everything, somehow, stayed exactly as is on July 31st, my guess is that it’d probably be Ely, Loney, and a 2nd rate pitching prospect, or a 1st rate one who has been disappointing (I won’t name names, you can guess the pitcher(s) I’m referring to). Lance Berkman may not be long for this world as a starting 1st baseman, and certainly not for the Astros. Loney is young, talented, relatively inexpensive, and a Houston native. So that’d be a perfect fit for them.
Ely would have to prove he was the real deal for the next few months, but if he did, I’m sure the Astros would be thrilled to have a young, talented, very inexpensive pitcher filling their ace’s spot right away, while other suitors would be trying to sell them on some double AA pitcher who lights up the radar gun.
From the Dodgers’ point of view, you know that Bills, Kershaw, and Kuroda aren’t going anywhere, and the Astros would have little use for Padilla (and saying “little” is very generous). So Ely is, sadly, the only other choice. And IF Jerry Sands is the real deal, the 1st base vacancy can be filled by Belliard adequately for a little while, considering what the Dodgers would get in return.
I’m not crazy about this trade myself, but it’s worth considering. Personally, I’d rather see a few prospects go that I haven’t gotten to know yet, but to a man, it seems that every one of them is underperforming at best and downright sucking at worse (except for Andrew Lambo, making his “useful indiscretion” that much worse- what a dope!), and this trade assumes, because what else can we do at this point, that everything stays the same. And if you were the Astros, and you were about to trade someone who’s probably the 3rd or maybe even 2nd best starting pitcher in their history, would you want to give that up for a few guys who “have potential”? I wouldn’t.
I don't see how moving
Loney and replacing him with Belliard is a good option. Now if Berkman is coming back in that deal then sure but if we are wondering how we can afford Oswalt, then Berkman certainly can’t be part of the puzzle.
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
I don't, either
but the drop-off from Loney to Belliard may be less damaging than the upgrade of a presumably human Ely to a presumably healthy Oswalt would be beneficial for the Dodgers. Again, I’m not advocating this trade, but I’m not quite ready to dismiss it, either.
Fortunately, this is all moot, anyway, as a lot is going to happen in the next 2+ months. Maybe the Astros will be more anxious to unload him at that point. Given what the Indians and then Phillies accepted for Cliff Lee, I wouldn’t dismiss that possibility, either. Or, maybe some of our prospects will step it up between now and then. It’s still too early to seriously consider ANY of this, but it’s an interesting topic to think about.
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