The Dodgers didn't have much luck with their two most recent first-round draft picks staying healthy last season, but 2009 seems to one of promise for Chris Withrow and Ethan Martin.
After dealing with a variety of problems last season, 2007 first-round draft pick Chris Withrow seems to be healthy.
After pitching a total of 13 innings since being drafted, Withrow is pitching for Single-A Advanced Inland Empire and made a start against Rancho Cucamonga on Sunday and tossed five hitless innings, striking out six.
Withrow is only 20, he still has clean mechanics and has plenty of time to work his way back slowly. Sunday's outing was very encouraging.
The Dodgers first pick in the 2008 draft, Ethan Martin, didn't pitch last season after having knee surgery, so Saturday's professional debut was highly anticipated.
Martin, pitching for Single-A Great Lakes, went five innings, didn't allow a run and struck out four against Dayton.
He relied mostly on his fastball and located well.
If both progress well, they could find themselves in Double-A late in the season. They could be in Triple-A at some point in 2010 and then perhaps be ready for the Big Leagues by 2011.
They would both be 22, or close to it, by that point so it wouldn't be rushing to have them up by then. It's probably more likely to get a peak at them in 2011 with them ready to start 2012 in the rotation.
Billingsley, Kershaw, Withrow and Martin sounds like a lot of fun to me.
If Withrow and Martin are healthy and a return of Scott Elbert would make our Farm System one of the best in baseball by the end of this year, we also have Lindbolm, Lambo, and Davarias Gordon is climbing the ranks and making a name for himself. The loss of D Young (who I always thought was kind of a jerk, even though he went to school here in Santa Barbara) isnt big giving an opportunity for Repko and Xavier Paul at some point in the season or if/when we trade Pierre. Matt had mentioned at some point that Gallagher looks to have potential at 3b or was it Bell? Either way throw in Hu and Dewitt and our farm is STACKED at all positions! We can trade for a stud pitcher this season, Peavy is my first choice but I dont see that happening.
I think it was Gallagher who played third when he saw them and Bell was the DH. I think that's what he said. Anyway, Matt said both those guys are big and strong. It looks like the Dodger system could get back to being a top system very easily.
Kershaw is LIGHTS OUT 13Ks!!!!!!! Bills and Kershaw!!!!!
Keep the kids coming. We need to dump Colletti, but at least we have the kids to back us up.
2011
SP: Billingsley, Kershaw, Lindbolm, Withrow, Martin
RP: Broxton, McDonald, Wade, Belisario.
If Colletti brings home another Division title and gets us back to the NLCS then Neds mutual option will be picked up next year. As much as Ned makes signing mistakes (Pierre/Jones/Schmidt), he cleans up his messes fairly well. I havent liked Colleti at all previous to trading for Manny (for nothing), but he has put together a young team without trading any big pieces, and next season will have plenty more payroll flexibility with Schmidt coming off the books and others for roughly 26 million. Not bad IF we win
True, he has cleaned up a bit, but I still don't trust him. Jones & Schmidt were especially obvious as no one else in the league, including their former teams, were interested. If he dumps our young pitchers listed above (plus others not listed) I won't tolerate it. We also don't have a first rounder this year.
Also, all though we do have some money off the books, we are committed to around 50 million, with at least eight (8) players eligible for arbitration, and they will not be cheap.
Billingsley, Broxton, Ethier, Kemp, Kuo, Loney, & Martin being the biggest names.
Agreed, I understood the Pierre (more so) over the other two, and I still think that Colleti has to show more this year to keep his job (Im not lobbying for him by no means...I still wish Dan Evans was running the helm).
I'm not willing to sell the farm for an arm, but my offer to San Diego/Toronto for their studs is four of the following
McDondald
Elbert
Lambo
Paul
Martin/Withrow
Hu/Dewitt
I'm not willing to give up everyone on the list but for a true ace to complement Bills and Kershaws development over the next couple of years, Im willing to pony up some young guys.
I also agree that the money comming off the books should be used to secure Martin/Bills/Broxton/Kemp...let Loney and Ethier go through arb.
If Kuo proves that he can duplicate last year then trade him for value before he finally breaks down for good
I disagree with several on the list (McDonald, Martin, Withrow, & DeWitt), but like the rest in a package. If Pierre was sooo expensive ($10MM for '09; $10MM for '10; $8.5MM for '11) We could do something with him, but the chances of that are slim to none. SD will not deal with LA unless it is ridiculous. I think they demanded Kemp + 2 prospects this winter, which was basically a "no" offer.
I'm in between. I don't want to include Martin or Withrow in any package, but I am okay with McDonald or DeWitt. Not both, but one or the other.
I'm not sure I'd want to see Lambo go. Paul I'm okay with, but Lambo projects much higher.
we wont get squat for Pierre except partial relief of salary since we will most likely eat a chunk. SD can take a flying @#ck if Kemp, JMartin, Kershaw, Bill, or Broxton are mentioned they are simply untouchable. Also would prefer to deal with Toronto since they arent in our division...while I'm willing to give up some guys I dont want to see them three years down the line in our division and wish we still had them.
But we need another top notch arm to win a five or seven game series this year...by next year though the Bills and Kershaw tandem will give me an idea of what my dad got to see when Koufax and Sutton ran the show.
We will have to give up something to require the pitcher we need (need=IMO)
I agree. I prefer to deal with Toronto. Plus Halladay is in a contract year, meaning he might be a little easier to get if the Blue Jays go into sell mode.
Don't forget Drysdale. Gotta mention him with Koufax. They were one of the best tandems ever.
meant Drysdale not Sutton, wrong Don! My very bad!
I think we all knew you meant Drysdale. You know your stuff. I would ship DeWitt, McDonald and/or Lambo if it meant getting Peavy or Halladay. Without even blinking.
I generally think I don't like Colletti. I feel like his best work has been keeping the young nucleus around, but his signings have been obvious duds from the beginning. Jones and Schmidt turned out to be 83 million in dead weight. It's definitely not as bad as the Zito/Rowand signings. I also think I would give up everyone that LaSorda for Pres mentioned. Kemp, Broxton, Bills and Kershaw are untouchable. Loney and Ethier are pretty close to being so as well.
erik bedard
I think I am with you. Bedard would take less to get and might be easier to sign after the season. I think he makes a good fit.
Bedard's MO is he lacks heart, before last season I was a big Bedard fan, he would take a lot less in a trade though.
Ned's trak record is pretty pathetic. Frank must be listening more now to Logan White, especially after losing Carlos Santana to save $1M. I would really like to see what Billy Beane could do with $100M budget, he is the smartest GM in the MLB by a country mile. Offer him whatever it takes, and let's see what he can do with the budgetary handcuffs removed!