2011 Dodgers Player Profile: John Lindsey, The Mayor
by Eric Stephen on Feb 12, 2011 7:00 AM PST
in Community Projections
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PrintIn a disappointing season for the Dodgers last year, John Lindsey was a bright spot. The lumbering first baseman had amassed over 1,500 games and 6,300 plate appearances in 16 years in the minor leagues before he finally got the call to the big leagues on September 6. Lindsey was 33 years, 221 days old two days later when he made his major league debut, making him the oldest non-Japanese Dodger to make his debut since Pete Wojey in 1954.
Lindsey, who hit 100 home runs over the last four years in the minors, got one hit in 12 at-bats as a major leaguer before breaking his hand with eight days left in the season. Lindsey's hand is expected to be fully healed in time for spring training.
Lindsey started and ended his season the same way: getting pinch hit for as a pinch hitter. In Lindsey's debut, on September 8 in San Diego, he was sent to the plate to face southpaw Joe Thatcher with one out in the eighth inning with a runner on first, down 4-0. However, once right-handed pitcher Luke Gregerson was brought into the game, Joe Torre called Lindsey back, sending Andre Ethier to the plate in his stead (Either grounded into an inning-ending double play, for what it's worth). The same move happened in the final game of the season, but this was more ceremonial, so Lindsey could get an ovation from the Dodger Stadium crowd, which was a nice homage.
Here is Lindsey taking batting practice in San Diego before his major league debut last season:
Trivia
Lindsey has been nicknamed "The Mayor" because of the audibly identical name of former New York Mayor John Lindsay, who was in office from 1966-1973. So, it's only fitting that Lindsey the ballplayer is the only back-to-back recipient of The Mayor's Trophy, an award voted on annually by fans of the Las Vegas 51s. Lindsey won the award in 2007 and 2008. The only other two-time winner of The Mayor's Trophy was Joey Cora.
Contract Status
When Lindsey's contract was purchased on September 6 of last season, that marked the first time Lindsey has ever been on a 40-man roster. Lindsey is still on the 40-man roster, though his hold on a roster spot is tenuous, as he figures to be a prime candidate (along with Hector Gimenez and Xavier Paul, who are both out of options) to be removed from the roster should one or two of the non-roster invitees (Ron Mahay, for instance) make the club out of spring training. Should Lindsey remain on the 40-man roster, he does have three option years left, so he can be sent to the minors without being exposed to waivers.
Stats
| Year | Age | PA | HR | Runs | RBI | BA | OBP | SLG | wOBA |
| 2008 (AAA) |
31 | 563 | 26 | 85 | 100 | .316 | .407 | .557 | .413 |
| 2009 (AAA) |
32 | 502 | 19 | 53 | 83 | .251 | .331 | .433 | .337 |
| 2010 (AAA) |
33 | 447 | 25 | 74 | 97 | .353 | .400 | .657 | .448 |
| 2010 (MLB) |
33 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .083 | .154 | .083 | .125 |
| 2011 Projections - Age 34 Season | |||||||||
| Year | PA | HR | Runs | RBI | BA | OBP | SLG | wOBA | |
| Marcel | 206 | 5 | 23 | 21 | .249 | .317 | .389 | .313 | |
| ZiPS | 455 | 14 | 46 | 66 | .244 | .302 | .407 | ||
2011 Outlook
The Dodgers have one open bench spot, and would rather give that spot to a player who can play multiple positions in the field, not just first base. As good a story as Lindsey is, in all likelihood, he will probably not play in the majors again. But his story is one of perseverance, as Lindsey finally realized a childhood dream after 16 long seasons toiling in the minor leagues.
My prediction is zero plate appearances for Lindsey with the Dodgers this season. What's your prediction?
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Comments
Yup
because Eric is the only one writing these profiles
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
Everyone on the 40-man, plus a few non-roster invitees, gets a profile.
by Eric Stephen on Feb 12, 2011 1:16 PM PST up reply actions
The feeling of anticipation for the Luis Vasquez profile is palpable.
by Eric Stephen on Feb 12, 2011 1:17 PM PST up reply actions
damn
I will toss you in slow-rec softball
by robotmadeofnails on Feb 12, 2011 11:15 PM PST up reply actions
sometimes we really are crotchety old men, eh?
@davidyoungtbla - The commenter formerly known as El Lay Dave.
by David Young on Feb 12, 2011 11:16 PM PST up reply actions
I hope he gets 0 PA. Not because I don’t think he’s a MLB quality hitter (there are plenty of people around MLB who think that for me) but because it means we haven’t had to tap into our 8th bench player.
He had to be all kinds of nervous during those BP rounds, but man those swings were never the same as the previous one and he’s got all kinds of hitches. Still, chalk it up to nerves, I’m sure.
The way to keep yourself from making assumptions is to ask questions.
Way to go out on a limb there, pardner.
by KellyStephen on Feb 12, 2011 9:28 AM PST up reply actions
Yah, last year was Brent Leach: Breaking Training
There's no need to fear, Underdog is here! / Broncos/Dodgers/Lakers fan in Niners/Raiders/Giants/Warriors country, and damned proud of it.
yes
yes i know…I’m saying if Brent Leach had not gone to Japan. Lindsey probably would have been the one to come off the 40 man to make room for the relief pitcher we picked up..Matt Gue?
by Dodgerblue8188 on Feb 12, 2011 4:56 PM PST up reply actions
Who is the "breakout Dodger" mentioned in Buster's new column?
http://insider.espn.go.com/mlb/blog?name=olney_buster&id=6115468
He hints at it in a tweet this morning.
Also: Adrian Gonzalez, breakout player?! Because he’s now in Boston?
There's no need to fear, Underdog is here! / Broncos/Dodgers/Lakers fan in Niners/Raiders/Giants/Warriors country, and damned proud of it.
In Rod we trust
by hee came hee seop'd he choi'd on Feb 12, 2011 10:07 AM PST via mobile up reply actions
Ah thanks.
Yeah I guess if Buster thinks Gonzalez can breakout this year :-/ then he is probably on that contingent of people who think Kershaw isn’t yet an ace, though he may be right that this is the year more people pay attention to him.
There's no need to fear, Underdog is here! / Broncos/Dodgers/Lakers fan in Niners/Raiders/Giants/Warriors country, and damned proud of it.
Interleague Play
I could see him as a short term call up during interleague play, especially if he is hitting well in AAA.
Right
Only if he’s tearing up the PCL, and other options struggling.
by wonderphenom on Feb 12, 2011 10:11 AM PST up reply actions
Jim Bowden's Top 50 Prospects
40. Dee Gordon, SS, Los Angeles Dodgers — He can really fly. Although he needs to work on his jumps, secondary leads, reading pitchers and finding better pitches to run on, he still profiles out to be a 50 stolen base top-of-the-order hitter. He is the son of former major leaguer Tom Gordon. He has good range to both sides and a strong arm. He makes a lot of errors on routine balls and needs to stay more focused on both sides of his game. Still, he remains the Dodgers best middle-infield prospect and the heir apparent to Rafael Furcal.
http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/Jim-Bowden-picks-top-50-prospects-in-MLB-for-2011-020911
like with an alter and everything? : )
by Josie Becker on Feb 12, 2011 10:26 AM PST up reply actions
oh man, goat is delicious. I can’t wait for Lindsey to serve up some on skewers
by Josie Becker on Feb 12, 2011 10:37 AM PST up reply actions
Had Indian goat curry as part of my lunch Friday. I like the Jamaican goat curry at Coley’s in Inglewood too.
@davidyoungtbla - The commenter formerly known as El Lay Dave.
by David Young on Feb 12, 2011 12:08 PM PST up reply actions
Its probably time for lidsney to think about coaching in the dodger system
by Tripon on Feb 12, 2011 11:37 AM PST via mobile reply actions
Not if he’s a Sept. call up and plays in a couple meaningless games at the end of the season as the team preps for the postseason.
@davidyoungtbla - The commenter formerly known as El Lay Dave.
by David Young on Feb 12, 2011 12:02 PM PST up reply actions
Is
Spicy Thai food and beer a bad way to go to start a Saturday?
by bhsportsguy on Feb 12, 2011 11:39 AM PST via mobile reply actions
At 7 A.M., maybe. At this time, no, it’s a great way.
@davidyoungtbla - The commenter formerly known as El Lay Dave.
by David Young on Feb 12, 2011 12:01 PM PST up reply actions
DFA, clears waivers
accepts outright to Albuquerque, called up in Sept., reaches base twice in 12 PAs, left off playoff roster.
@davidyoungtbla - The commenter formerly known as El Lay Dave.
Usually it is up my ass. Today is an improvement.
@davidyoungtbla - The commenter formerly known as El Lay Dave.
by David Young on Feb 12, 2011 12:24 PM PST up reply actions
I second your prediction
yeah between this and your Hoodoo Gurus callback on Twitter you’re on a roll!
There's no need to fear, Underdog is here! / Broncos/Dodgers/Lakers fan in Niners/Raiders/Giants/Warriors country, and damned proud of it.
Pretty sweet college basketball game going on right now on ESPN
No. 1 Ohio State and No. 14 Wisconsin are tied at 49 with ~8 minutes left.
Well, it seems Kershaw is finally getting some respect
http://www.sbnation.com/mlb/2011/2/11/1988781/2011-mlb-opening-day-starters-roy-halladay
Baseball is a game, and games are supposed to be fun.
I feel like trying to lock down opening day starters performances is a bit of a crap shoot. Some guys still arent 110% ready to go after spring training. Seems like it takes a couple weeks for guys to get ready to go full bore for the season.
by hee came hee seop'd he choi'd on Feb 12, 2011 12:53 PM PST up reply actions
Does 20,000,000:1
seem like reasonable odds for Lindsey being the starter at 1B by September? If so, I’ll put a nickel down in optimism.
If the Dodgers had won the pennant no one would be talking about Lindsey
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
by Phil Gurnee on Feb 12, 2011 1:12 PM PST reply actions 1 recs
If you hadn't said it
I woulda :-)
Look on my works, ye mighty, and despair!
by Humma Kavula on Feb 12, 2011 3:30 PM PST up reply actions
Different team then the Dodgers
62 Plate Appearances
.869 OPS
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
Gives new meaning to “crack of the bat”.
@davidyoungtbla - The commenter formerly known as El Lay Dave.
Sad Eyed Lindsey Of The Low Hands?
by Eric Stephen on Feb 12, 2011 1:18 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs
If I remember reading this correctly, didn’t that song make up the entire B side of the Blonde on Blonde album? That song, she is a long one.
by Eric Stephen on Feb 12, 2011 1:21 PM PST up reply actions
Plausible. Nobody can write a long-ass song like Dylan. Heart’s in the Highland is another great one.
That song is what I like to call a fun romp.
by Eric Stephen on Feb 12, 2011 1:23 PM PST up reply actions
It is the only song on side 4, about 11 1/2 minutes.
@davidyoungtbla - The commenter formerly known as El Lay Dave.
I miss the concept of sides. They actually mattered for a time. Side one, side two. Now it’s all tracks. Titles don’t even matter as much. I wish those kids would get off my lawn!
Back in ‘89, Tom Petty’s Full Moon Fever album had an extra track on the CD, in the middle of the songs. It was a spoken word selection where Petty said
Hello, CD listeners. We’ve come to the point in this album where those listening on cassette, or records, will have to stand up, or sit down, and turn over the record. Or tape. In fairness to those listeners, we’ll now take a few seconds before we begin side two. [pause] Thank you. Here’s side two.I understand that this may not appear on later releases of the CD.
@davidyoungtbla - The commenter formerly known as El Lay Dave.
I will rip you a copy for Spring Training.
@davidyoungtbla - The commenter formerly known as El Lay Dave.
For the boss underdash, self-mounted tape deck you had – oh, wait, that’s me.
@davidyoungtbla - The commenter formerly known as El Lay Dave.
I had, and have, this CD
So I must point out that it is not an “extra track.” These words are in the track for “Feel a Whole Lot Better.” Queue up that track, hear those words, and at 0:27, the song starts.
Look on my works, ye mighty, and despair!
by Humma Kavula on Feb 12, 2011 3:34 PM PST up reply actions
By the way, if I'm the Heartbreakers,
I’m like, screw you, Tom Petty, for saving up your best material and then not putting us on the album, so when it sells a zillion copies we get none of the residuals. Further fuck you for then making us play those songs in concert, night after night, after we — ahem — weren’t good enough to back you up on that album.
Look on my works, ye mighty, and despair!
by Humma Kavula on Feb 12, 2011 3:38 PM PST up reply actions
Longtime Heartbreaker guitarist Mike Campbell co-produced the album and co-wrote a couple songs. I think most of the Heartbreaker play on at least one song. And since many songs were co-written by Petty and Jeff Lynne, how long could they possibly have been “saved up”?
If I’m a Heartbreaker, I’m like, thank you Tom Petty for writing a shitload of hit songs and having star quality, because without you, the odds that I made this much fucking money and nailed this many damn women who are clearly too good-looking for me would have been a helluva a lot longer.
@davidyoungtbla - The commenter formerly known as El Lay Dave.
by David Young on Feb 12, 2011 11:12 PM PST up reply actions
Semantics, technicality, etc., etc. I was working from memory there. Too much effort to go upstairs (not from the basement) and look it up.
@davidyoungtbla - The commenter formerly known as El Lay Dave.
by David Young on Feb 12, 2011 11:06 PM PST up reply actions
I did not know that
you can subscribe to TBLA for your Kindle. Huh. Only 99 cents per month.
@davidyoungtbla - The commenter formerly known as El Lay Dave.
Yeah I saw that
kinda weird when you could just navigate to the site in the browser
I'M A BEAUTIFUL AND UNIQUE SNOWFLAKE TRIUMPHANTLY RAGING AGAINST THE TIDE OF CONFORMITY
Spring Training question
what happens at spring training? Do the teams just practice by themselves? or do they play against other teams? I looked up the schedule for 2011, and it seems they play other teams in the cactus league, and not always in Arizona.
Starts with a lot of workouts and drills. In March the exhibitions against other teams begin. You can see the schedule at dodgers.com (sounds like you already have). Most of the exhibitions are in the Cactus League in the Phoenix area. The Dodgers have one game in Las Vegas. (Last year they had the Taiwan trip, so this one is much easier!) After they break camp, they typically have a few exhibition games here in LA before Opening Day kicks off the real games.
@davidyoungtbla - The commenter formerly known as El Lay Dave.
On game days, the players still do morning drills and workouts.
@davidyoungtbla - The commenter formerly known as El Lay Dave.
Not too often, but they will play a few NL West teams here and there
mostly they get matched up against other Cactus League teams outside the division like Cubs and White Sox (with whom they share the stadium), and so on. Not too many opportunities to spy on the direct competition but a few…
There's no need to fear, Underdog is here! / Broncos/Dodgers/Lakers fan in Niners/Raiders/Giants/Warriors country, and damned proud of it.
The Galaxy and the Earthquakes hooked up for a pre-season tilt last week. For the life of me that just seemed like crazy ideas.
by Josie Becker on Feb 12, 2011 2:50 PM PST up reply actions
They do play the Giants 4 times
http://www.springtrainingonline.com/teams/la-dodgers-4.htm
though 2 of those games are SS games so won’t really be seeing too many SF players they’d see in the regular season.
There's no need to fear, Underdog is here! / Broncos/Dodgers/Lakers fan in Niners/Raiders/Giants/Warriors country, and damned proud of it.
SS = split squad games
for any spring training newbies.
There's no need to fear, Underdog is here! / Broncos/Dodgers/Lakers fan in Niners/Raiders/Giants/Warriors country, and damned proud of it.
sounds too much like stew babies, which is just wrong
by Josie Becker on Feb 12, 2011 2:54 PM PST up reply actions
if you tenderize them with a few punches first, it works out well in the crock pot.
@davidyoungtbla - The commenter formerly known as El Lay Dave.
Up until
2009, the rest of the current NL West played in the Cactus League while the Dodgers played in Florida. From what little evidence there is, I don’t know if there is any advantage to play against your divisional rivals in Spring Training.
by bhsportsguy on Feb 12, 2011 4:19 PM PST via mobile up reply actions
Sam Adams White Ale while the sun was shining today. Sam Adams Old Fezziwig Ale with dinner. Sam Adams Chocolate Bock (the last one {{sniff}} ) for dessert. It was a good day.
@davidyoungtbla - The commenter formerly known as El Lay Dave.
by David Young on Feb 12, 2011 11:14 PM PST up reply actions
Sam Adams Winter Lager for me today. Good stuff.
by Eric Stephen on Feb 12, 2011 11:18 PM PST up reply actions
I polished my last one of those off a couple days ago. The winter collection may be my favorite.
@davidyoungtbla - The commenter formerly known as El Lay Dave.
by David Young on Feb 12, 2011 11:21 PM PST up reply actions
OT: My new favorite player name (women's division)
was following a bit of the UCSB-UC Riverside WBB game today and discovered the Lady Gauchos have a player named Sweets Underwood.
That rules.
There's no need to fear, Underdog is here! / Broncos/Dodgers/Lakers fan in Niners/Raiders/Giants/Warriors country, and damned proud of it.
I hear there are many guys on campus trying to convince Lady Gauchos that there are sweets under wood.
@davidyoungtbla - The commenter formerly known as El Lay Dave.
by David Young on Feb 12, 2011 11:15 PM PST up reply actions
A sweet little obit for Josh Lindblom's grandfather
complete with pic of young Josh on granddad’s lap.
http://napervillesun.suntimes.com/news/3786854-418/naperville-man-played-santa-to-many.html
There's no need to fear, Underdog is here! / Broncos/Dodgers/Lakers fan in Niners/Raiders/Giants/Warriors country, and damned proud of it.
If Loney
continues to morph into Casey Kotchman, I can see them calling up Lindsey to replace him, despite Loney’s salary. If that happens he could get around 200 PAs, as Marcel predicts.
by EthierIsBetterThanKemp on Feb 13, 2011 1:21 PM PST reply actions
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