Author: Dennis Schlossman

Dodgers Management: A Detailed Look at Andrew Friedman

Published on by Dennis Schlossman59 Comments
andrew-friedman
(Photo Credit: Kirby Lee/USA Today Sports)

During the dullest days of the break last winter, we took a few moments to profile a few members of the Dodgers management team, most specifically GM Farhan Zaidi and new additions to the coaching staff in George Lombard and Bob Geren. This year, traveling higher up on the totem pole, we decided to take a closer look at president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman mainly for the sake of having a solid reference link, but also in an effort to learn more about the primary decision maker of the Los Angeles front office crew.

Continue reading “Dodgers Management: A Detailed Look at Andrew Friedman” →

Hyun-Jin Ryu Starting Spring Training Early

Published on by Dennis SchlossmanLeave a comment
ryu
(Photo Credit: AP/Yonhap News)

While many fans of the Dodgers aren’t overwhelmingly optimistic about a productive return, pitcher Hyun-Jin Ryu seems to be determined to prove his critics otherwise, as the 29-year-old southpaw will head to Japan this weekend to start a three-week long rehabbing endeavor before the beginning of MLB spring training.

Continue reading “Hyun-Jin Ryu Starting Spring Training Early” →

Can 2017 Dodgers Succeed Without Major Upgrades?

Published on by Dennis Schlossman1 Comment
meeting
(Photo Credit: Jon SooHoo)

With six weeks remaining before pitchers and catchers start filing into the clubhouse at Camelback Ranch, there’s certainly enough time to make a few roster upgrades heading into Cactus League play if the front office crew of the Dodgers decides to do so. But if the team brings an almost identical look from last year to the beginning of the 2017 regular season, will the club have enough firepower to win a fifth consecutive division title, and more importantly, have the strength to make a deep run into the playoffs in October?

Continue reading “Can 2017 Dodgers Succeed Without Major Upgrades?” →

Dodgers Prospects: A Quick Glance at Walker Buehler

Published on by Dennis SchlossmanLeave a comment
walker-buehler
(Photo Credit: Bruce Thorson/USA TODAY Sports)

For those who are very familiar with the farm system of the Dodgers, they’ll know that there are three different tiers when categorizing the levels of starting pitching talent throughout the organization. The top tier, consisting of young, MLB-ready premium throwers like Julio Urias, Jose De Leon, Ross Stripling and Brock Stewart, sets the standard across baseball. The intermediate tier features names like Trevor Oaks, Chase De Jong, Carlos Frias and Scott Barlow — all pitchers considered to be right on the fringe, but could probably assume No. 5 big league spots for almost any team in the league. Then there’s the third tier, which is made up of future stars like Yadier Alvarez, Mitchell White, Josh Sborz, Imani Abdullah and Andrew Sopko. This lower tier puts an exclamation point on how strong and incredibly deep the Dodgers’ minor league system has actually become.

Continue reading “Dodgers Prospects: A Quick Glance at Walker Buehler” →

Dodgers Roster: How to Make Room for Kenley Jansen

Published on by Dennis Schlossman1 Comment
kenley-jansen
(Photo Credit: Kevin Sousa/USA TODAY Sports)

Perhaps the Dodgers were hoping to make a trade with the Twins by now, clearing out a few spots on the 40-man roster in the process. Or maybe team representatives are waiting until the honeymoon is over, permitting time for a physical examination and allowing agents and lawyers to gather in one place to review the contract. Quite possibly, the front office could be mulling over which player to outright to the minors, creating one opening on the big league roster. Either way, at least one corresponding move will need to be made before star reliever Kenley Jansen officially signs his name to his new five-year, $80 million dollar deal.

Continue reading “Dodgers Roster: How to Make Room for Kenley Jansen” →

4 Alternate Options to Fill Dodgers’ Void at Second Base

Published on by Dennis Schlossman2 Comments
b99676439z-1_20160226213302_000_g8qela8u-1-1
(Photo Credit: Roy Dabner)

Quite obviously, the Dodgers‘ ties to the Minnesota Twins and second baseman Brian Dozier have dominated most of the Los Angeles baseball news for much of the current offseason. In addition to Dozier, rumors surrounding Ian Kinsler of the Tigers and Brandon Phillips of the Reds swirled early during the Hot Stove, but ultimately lost any type of momentum due to the potential complexities of completing a trade.

Continue reading “4 Alternate Options to Fill Dodgers’ Void at Second Base” →

Exploring the Dodgers’ Depth Chart at Catcher

Published on by Dennis SchlossmanLeave a comment
kfarmer
(Photo Credit: twicopy.org)

On Tuesday, while publishing the first edition containing our projections for the Dodgers‘ 25-man roster heading into 2017, there were a few areas of the squad that provoked some curious contemplation, with the depth chart at catcher being among the most interesting. After the departures of veterans A.J. Ellis and Carlos Ruiz, 28-year-old Yasmani Grandal will step up to be the new leader of the catching crew, headlining an area of the team that seemingly got loads of years younger with the blink of an eye.

Continue reading “Exploring the Dodgers’ Depth Chart at Catcher” →

Dodgers 25-Man Roster Projections: 2017 First Edition

Published on by Dennis Schlossman1 Comment
yasiel-puig-dave-roberts-chase-utley
(Photo Credit: Jake Roth/USA TODAY Sports)

Staying on pace with the tradition we began last winter, we thought that it’s about the proper time to jot down our initial 25-man roster projections for 2017, although there’s probably a very good chance the front office crew of the Dodgers orchestrates at least a handful of significant transactions between now and spring training.

Continue reading “Dodgers 25-Man Roster Projections: 2017 First Edition” →

Happy Holidays from Think Blue Planning Committee

Published on by Dennis SchlossmanLeave a comment

6-los-angeles-dodgers-joe-hamilton

As 2016 has passed us by at such a swift pace, all of us here at Think Blue Planning Committee would like to take a quick moment to wish our entire viewing audience the happiest of holiday seasons.

Continue reading “Happy Holidays from Think Blue Planning Committee” →

Dodgers Roster: Justin Turner Signing Finally Becomes Official

Published on by Dennis SchlossmanLeave a comment
justin_turner_ecxrgbvu_a9151djo
(Photo Credit: mlb.com)

After having reached an informal agreement well over a week ago, the Los Angeles Dodgers finally announced the signing of free agent third baseman Justin Turner to a four-year contract on Friday afternoon.

Continue reading “Dodgers Roster: Justin Turner Signing Finally Becomes Official” →