As fans of the Dodgers continue to sit and wait for news of any signings or trades the team might be making, one can’t help still wonder who will be behind the plate for the majority of the 2019 season.
Continue reading “Are the Dodgers Headed for a Reunion with Yasmani Grandal?”
As quiet as the offseason has been so far, one of the main focuses of the Dodgers management crew is trying to snag an experienced catcher for the upcoming campaign. Many thought Wilson Ramos, who recently signed a two-year pact with the Mets, was a perfect fit, despite his intentions to remain on the East Coast. But even if Los Angeles is able to land a gem via trade or free agency, what would happen in the event of an injury?
Continue reading “Dodgers 40-Man Roster: Contemplating the Organizational Depth at Catcher”
A lot of changes may be coming the Dodgers‘ way over the winter, and the biggest may come in the outfield.
Continue reading “Dodgers Roster: What Will the Outfield Look Like in 2019?”
If there’s any area of the roster wide open for the taking over the winter break, it’s the Los Angeles catching department. Although it’s doubtful, it’s entirely possible the Dodgers have confidence that Austin Barnes can be the primary backstop, producing solidly both on offense and defense. Or, maybe management extends free agent Yasmani Grandal a qualifying offer, if only to hold the team over until either Will Smith or Keibert Ruiz are ready to emerge at the big league level. Or, perhaps the team is able to orchestrate a deal for somebody like J.T. Realmuto—the stellar catcher from Miami who is coming off his first-ever NL All-Star appearance.
Continue reading “Some Preliminary Thoughts About the Offseason Catching Picture”
Sometime within the next 24 hours, Clayton Kershaw will make a decision about his future. He may decide to opt out of the remainder of his contract with the Dodgers and test the free agent market, or he may not exercise the option at all, choosing to finish out the rest of his deal in Los Angeles.
Continue reading “Clayton Kershaw & the Remainder of the 2019 Starting Rotation”
It’s all that everyone’s been talking about—with good reason. What many followers of the Dodgers have considered to be the team’s biggest weakness all year long is finally proving to be true. It took an illness from the team’s All-Star closer to prove, but what folks are now learning is that Kenley Jansen was the single cog which was seemingly holding the entire Los Angeles relief corps together.
Continue reading “Dodgers Roster: More Thoughts on an Otherwise Shoddy Bullpen”
Long before the 2018 starting rotation picture began to sort itself out, many folks close to the Dodgers believed that Hyun-Jin Ryu was embarking upon a potentially career-best season, just in time for him to successfully test the free agent market during the coming winter months. Through the end of April of this year, the 31-year-old southpaw had posted a 3-0 record with a 2.12 ERA, a 0.867 WHIP and an outrageous 10.9 K/9, at least by his own standards. Before the emergence of Ross Stripling, and with staff ace Clayton Kershaw fighting off several different ailments, Ryu was leading the charge of the entire Los Angeles pitching staff.
Continue reading “Dodgers Roster: Will Hyun-Jin Ryu Make Another Positive Impact in 2018?”
There’s a good chance the current bullpen of the Dodgers will get a bit of a makeover before playoff time, assuming that the team is indeed able to secure a spot in the 2018 postseason. It could be accomplished by utilizing injured players like Josh Fields, Julio Urias or Hyun-Jin Ryu, or management may be able to find a way to orchestrate a waiver trade before the end of August. Furthermore, there will be a few starting pitchers left over come playoff time, conceivably allowing several arms like Ross Stripling, Alex Wood or even Kenta Maeda to throw in relief down the stretch.
Continue reading “Dodgers 25-Man Roster: A Few More Random Notes on the Bullpen”
Although it’s been awhile since we’ve taken a look at the starting rotation of the Dodgers as a whole, the unit is far and away the best on the Senior Circuit with a 3.31 ERA, if you’re into that sort of stat. Even in terms of WHIP and OBPA, Dodgers starters still comfortably lead the NL pack. If we look at how good the Los Angeles rotation is on a broader scale, there are certainly several groups in the American League which may be better, but that’s something the club can consider later in the season, if the team is indeed able to clinch a spot in the postseason.
Continue reading “The Current State of the Dodgers Starting Rotation”
In a statement made before Wednesday’s contest against the Brewers, Los Angeles skipper Dave Roberts indicated that the Dodgers were preparing to move third baseman Justin Turner onto the club’s active roster Thursday, conceivably unleashing one of the most potent offenses in the National League.
Continue reading “How Will Dodgers Create Roster Space for Justin Turner?”
Think Blue Planning Committee 