2012 Dodgers Player Profile: Stephen Fife
by Eric Stephen on Feb 18, 2012 6:01 AM PST
in Community Projections
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The Dodgers acquired right-handed pitcher Stephen Fife at the trade deadline last season, one of three players acquired from the Boston Red Sox in exchange for outfielder Trayvon Robinson. Catcher Tim Federowicz was the coveted piece of that transaction, with 22-year old Juan Rodriguez the live-arm lottery ticket, and Fife the low-upside starter.
Fife, now 25, was 14-4 with a 3.74 ERA in Double A in 2011, but continued his downward trend in missing bats. After 127 strikeouts in 126 innings in two years at Class A, Fife has seen his strikeout rate plummet to 5.83 strikeouts per nine innings in his 51 games, including 50 starts, in two years at Double A.
Our own Brandon Lennox rated Fife as the 53rd best prospect in the Dodgers organization:
Back in 2010 BA thought he could be a #3 starter in the big leagues, but at this point that seems unlikely. His strikeout rate has dropped significantly over the past few seasons, which would OK given that he is a groundball pitcher, but the fact that he allowed 6 homers in just 8 AFL starts has me worried. That being said, with another year of experience I could see him being a useful emergency 5th starter for the Dodgers while holding down a rotation spot in AAA. Now that’s he’s on the Dodgers 40 man roster he actually might get a ticket for Albuquerque as soon as 2012, and hopefully he’ll be able to hold his own in the difficult pitching environment of the Pacific Coast League.
Here is a video of Fife from the AFL striking out Braves catching prospect Christian Bethancourt:
Trivia
In 1999, Fife was a reserve infielder on the Boise, Idaho Little League team that made it to the Little League World Series. Fife's team didn't advance to the U.S. final, as they were ousted 12-0 by the team from Phenix City, Alabama that featured Colby Rasmus as a first baseman and pitcher (though Rasmus didn't pitch in that game).
Contract Status
Fife was added to the 40-man roster in November, and will use the first of three minor league options this season.
Stats
| Year | Age | IP | BB/9 | K/9 | ERA | FIP |
| 2009 (A) |
22 | 87.1 | 1.44 | 8.86 | 3.71 | 2.97 |
| 2010 (AA) |
23 | 136.1 | 3.04 | 5.41 | 4.75 | 6.71 |
| 2011 (AA) |
24 | 137.0 | 3.42 | 6.25 | 3.74 | 3.93 |
| 2012 Projections - Age 25 Season | ||||||
| Source | IP | BB/9 | K/9 | ERA | FIP | |
| PECOTA | 26.2 | 3.71 | 4.73 | 5.16 | 4.85 | |
| ZiPS | 116.0 | 3.80 | 4.66 | 5.35 | 5.00 | |
2012 Outlook
On the day Fife was acquired general manager Ned Colletti used the word "pitchability" to describe Fife, which at the time screamed "John Ely" to me. But Fife throws harder than Ely, and as the eighth or ninth starter on the depth chart you could probably do worse. Just by being on the 40-man, Fife is one step closer to making the big leagues, though I will guess that Fife doesn't see any time with the big club this season.
What's your prediction for Fife? Give us your prediction for ERA, WHIP, and innings pitched in the comments, and feel free to add strikeouts or any other predictions you have as well.
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Comments
I think he'll get a September call-up if nothing else
probably as a long reliever.
3 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 2 K
He’s not a very good pitcher but dude is a crack-up with a mic in his hands. Worth it for the interviews.
I am of the same mind as ye.
6.2 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 5 K
by DodgerofTrolleys on Feb 18, 2012 6:28 AM PST reply actions
Who's the guy on the right?
It's gettin' so a businessman can't expect no return from a fixed fight. Now, if you can't trust a fix, what can you trust?
What I really hope Fife turns out to be is
a single-pitch reliever, solely so I can call him “Single Bullet”.
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- The commenter formerly known as El Lay Dave.
Fife is what Fife does.
Traded as fodder for a bat that may or may not help much at the trade deadline.
unlikely he gets traded for a major league roster guy, if at all.
You're not yet drunk if you can lay on the floor without holding on.
Not alone, but why not as part of a package? He just was part of one that was essentially for Erik Bedard.
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If fife gets a start before September this season will have been a disaster
by hee came hee seop'd he choi'd on Feb 18, 2012 8:39 AM PST via mobile reply actions
unless you consider how many relievers get hurt in a typical season.
You're not yet drunk if you can lay on the floor without holding on.
There would seem to be a lot of relievers ahead of him in the food chain though, aren’t there?
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Room gets made on the 40-man all the time. One spot will open simply by moving Rubby back onto the 60-day once that is allowed. Don’t you think Tolleson, for example, if he continues to be successful in AA/AAA would get the call first?
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by David Young on Feb 18, 2012 10:02 AM PST up reply actions
I think we have shown the last couple years that if it is only for a couple days then we will grab the lesser player on the 40 man over a better player that isn’t on it.
That said, I don’t think Fife will play in one game for us this year unless he’s pitching really well in the minors.
And we’ve also shown that we’ll add a couple NRIs to the 40-man one way or another.
You’re right though, the 40-man relief pitching depth at the moment is a little different than I perceived.
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by David Young on Feb 18, 2012 10:28 AM PST up reply actions
The man said "start".
If fife gets a start before September this season will have been a disaster
@TElciram
by Taylor Maricle on Feb 18, 2012 11:14 AM PST up reply actions
The starters on the Dodgers 40 man outside of the first five are: Eovaldi, Fife, Antonini and Withrow. We have two pitchers in the rotation that aren’t very good and possibly held together by duct tape. Unless Webster or Withrow go absolutely nutso in AA this year you can easily argue that Fife is the 7th starter.
Minor League Central @mlcentral @andrewngrant
by regfairfield on Feb 18, 2012 11:24 AM PST up reply actions
Not on the 40-man.
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by David Young on Feb 18, 2012 11:31 AM PST up reply actions
Got it. But like you said, he’s the kind of guy who could easily be added as a spot starter (in a pinch.)
He still have options?
I already did the Antonini profile and I assumed Ely was ahead of Antonini (and Fife) on the depth chart.
by Michael White on Feb 18, 2012 11:33 AM PST up reply actions
There’s gonna be at least one spot on the 40 man open when Troncoso runs out of options (that will probably go to Josh Fields). I guess the question is why boot someone for Ely when Antonini and Fife can get you the same kind of uninspiring pitching.
Minor League Central @mlcentral @andrewngrant
by regfairfield on Feb 18, 2012 11:42 AM PST up reply actions
Fife has a few extra MPH
on his main fastball which is a 2-seamer (can throw harder 4-seamers, apparently, but doesn’t), and Antonini is left-handed. So i guess it can be argued that they have more upside, if a lower floor.
@TElciram
by Taylor Maricle on Feb 18, 2012 11:52 AM PST up reply actions
does not make an appearance in a game
by court168627 on Feb 18, 2012 9:12 AM PST via Android app reply actions
New Mexico vs UNLV on CBS right now. This should be a real good game with it being played in The Pit.
it’s a regional broadcast. No one in Los Angeles is seeing that game.
by Josie Becker on Feb 18, 2012 10:30 AM PST up reply actions
I should’ve figured that. It being UNLV and NMU had me thinking it was national as the CBS game up here is usually a game from the midwest or east coast. I didn’t put 2 and 2 together and realize it’s 2 conference foes of Boise State.
The battle of the teams with ex-Bruins. UCLA is not looking very good in today’s game. Unfortunately, I’m not surprised.
I'd rather lose when I'm right than win when I'm wrong.
Go Bruins!
But boy do we stink this year. Of course this is a far cry from my freshman year when we were bitterly disappointed because we got eliminated in the tournament, making David Greenwood’s class the first since 1960-something not to win a championship.
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by David Young on Feb 18, 2012 11:07 AM PST up reply actions
Yeah, its been a very disappointing season, the inconsistent play reminds me of the Lavin years. Wooden certainly set the bar high for all UCLA basketball coaches.
I'd rather lose when I'm right than win when I'm wrong.
As a Cal Bear, I am taking great enjoyment at UCLA’s disappointing play. Schadenfreude!
by Josie Becker on Feb 18, 2012 11:20 AM PST up reply actions
But you don’t want them to lose to St. John’s today; it doesn’t help the Pac-12 ranking which is already pathetically low.
I'd rather lose when I'm right than win when I'm wrong.
Nothing is going to help the Pac-12 ranking. The conference is just plain terrible this year overall.
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by David Young on Feb 18, 2012 11:33 AM PST up reply actions
If Cal win’s the regular season title, they should be in. But yeah, I’m still nervous as the Pac 12 may only get one bid to the tourney.
by Josie Becker on Feb 18, 2012 11:46 AM PST up reply actions
No worries. I was just surprised you didn’t say “New Mexico.” Even though everyone in the national media calls them New Mexico, they are always referred to as UNM here.
by fbihop on Feb 18, 2012 12:15 PM PST via mobile up reply actions
September call-up
I think Fife will get a September call-up.New ownership will do some roster overhaul in the second half regardless of where the Dodgers are and this will give Fife an opportunity to pitch.
Spurs v Clippers shortly.
Clippers are three point favorites. A chance to move up in the pecking order. Corners to be be turned.
I say he comes up earlier than September during a bullpen shuffle.
7.2 IP, 3 R, 5K’s, and 4 BB’s.
^That’s what i’m predicting out of his first call-up, if he gets more than one just ignore either the other call-ups or my prediction
@TElciram
by Taylor Maricle on Feb 18, 2012 11:12 AM PST reply actions
He’s a pitcher on the 40 man that’s capable of starting, he’ll get some innings. He can death match with Antonini for the 7th starter job
35 innings 3.75 ERA, a Stultsian level of irrational exuberance.
Minor League Central @mlcentral @andrewngrant
I can't imagine he would get up here before a lot of other players
I’d think that some of the pitchers in front of him might be:
Withrow
Webster
Eovaldi
Rubby (duh)
Wall
Redding
The last two might be question marks, but still 4 better prospects in front of him IMO.
TBLA 2011 Postseason Prediction Champion
Wall's strictly a reliever now.
And Redding’s far enough away that i’d rather have Fife, IMO.
Miller, who should be healthy and in AA would probably be another i’d rather try before Fife.
@TElciram
by Taylor Maricle on Feb 18, 2012 11:54 AM PST up reply actions
Man, I'm sure this was remarked up on here earlier but... ESPNFail.
http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slug=ap-knicks-linheadline
At least they quickly pulled it down. But yikes, what editor thought that was okay?
There's no need to fear, Underdog is here! / Broncos/Dodgers/Lakers fan in Niners/Raiders/Giants/Warriors country, and damned proud of it.
ESPN reporters don’t write their headlines. That’s all on the editors, and they wrote that (which was not the first time they used that headline, first time was for the US team in the BEIJING OLYMPICS) not seeing anything wrong with it.
by Josie Becker on Feb 18, 2012 12:47 PM PST up reply actions
He said “editor”.
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by David Young on Feb 18, 2012 12:52 PM PST up reply actions
yes, I wrote that confusingly. Was trying to expand his statement and say that this isn’t an “the editor missed it when copy editing” situation, but an “the editor came up with and ran with that headline and didn’t see the consequences”. Speaks to the mentality higher up on the chain at ESPN.
by Josie Becker on Feb 18, 2012 1:10 PM PST up reply actions
Got it.
… and how white they are. ;-)
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white, fraternal are two adjectives I’d begin with : )
by Josie Becker on Feb 18, 2012 1:32 PM PST up reply actions
With half my heritage Chinese, I find all “chink” puns offensive, personally.
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there was a story about how on the court, he’d get called that slur on occasion. And bringing up Taiwan just gets [political]
by Josie Becker on Feb 18, 2012 1:33 PM PST up reply actions
that’s fine that you’re not offended by it, but you at least recognize that that was a pretty fucked up thing for espn to do
by court168627 on Feb 18, 2012 1:53 PM PST via Android app up reply actions 1 recs
There’s a legitimate chain of responsibility for that outrageously stupid headline. The thought processes that created those words and then allowed them to be printed are indicative of sincere willful ignorance.
by padrecarroeselmer on Feb 18, 2012 6:37 PM PST up reply actions
Spring Training at Camelback
So it ends up I’m going to get to go to the last weekend of spring training and I could use some advice, especially because my nephew would like some autographs.
Here’s the Saturday schedule:
MIL @ SD – Peoria, noon
COL @ CWS – Glendale
LAA @ CHI – Mesa
LAD @ AZ* – Salt River
AZ* @ KC – Surprise
CIN @ SF – Scottsdale, 3 pm
SD @ SEA – Peoria, 6 pm
TEX @ CLE – Goodyear at 7
Anyone have any insight on which of these sites is the best? Also, what time is best to get there to see meet players or see them practice up close?
On Sunday, Dodgers play their last ST game against Arizona, and I plan to go to that. Considering its a Sunday and the last day of ST will players even be practicing still or available to meet? Any advice would be appreciated.
Here's a fanpost I wrote last year:
http://www.truebluela.com/2011/1/26/1956851/a-guide-for-planning-a-visit-to-camelback-ranch
I can’t speak really about the other stadiums, but it’s fairly easy to meet players and get autographs/take pictures with the Dodger players. Even though the Dodgers play at Salt River in the afternoon, be sure to be at Camelback for the morning workout – get there by 10 am and hang out. When they are done with the workout and head off to the clubhouse (usually between 11 and 12 pm), most of them will be available to sign autographs – and since the team doesn’t play at Camelback that day, you’ll have less competition.
Looks like A's are serious about manny
I must say, if I ever took that club seriously, I wouldn’t now
see also: Mike Piazza, Jason Giambi part two (and why on earth did the Rockies pick up Giambi after that?)
by Josie Becker on Feb 18, 2012 1:11 PM PST up reply actions
Giambi: more homers than Andre.
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yeah, giambi was pretty damn solid last year
by court168627 on Feb 18, 2012 1:50 PM PST via Android app up reply actions
its a signing that makes perfect sense for them
they can’t go after the big free agents so they have to gamble on a guy like Manny who has really high upside, and comes fairly cheap.
Watch me all in flames, on a butterfly I ride
who else is on the free agent market RIGHT NOW that they should spend that money on instead?
Watch me all in flames, on a butterfly I ride
at the beginning of every season my brothers and i do bold predictions. this year i will predict that manny does better than braun after they serve their suspensions.
by court168627 on Feb 18, 2012 2:01 PM PST via Android app up reply actions
UC Irvine
Playing baseball on MLBN right now
"Heroes get remembered, but Legends never die."
by Tommy Blackjack on Feb 18, 2012 1:21 PM PST via iPhone app reply actions
Stay here for the main comments
but there is a new FanPost up:
http://www.truebluela.com/2012/2/18/2808356/dodger-blogger-softball-tournament-pics
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watch, as Josie overextends and hits a harmless grounder. Yet, I was 3-5 on the day : )
by Josie Becker on Feb 18, 2012 1:34 PM PST up reply actions
You did great! Caught that pop up too.
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I just added something to that post I forgot to put in.
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