Let's roundup everything that's been going on.
For starters, Brian Giles retired. Does anyone care in Dodger Land? No. He was a good player for a number of years, but this effects us none. I can't believe some people are mentioning him as a possible Hall of Famer. No shot.
The team is not hitting a lick in Spring Training. With Rafael Furcal, there is plenty of cause for concern. After a mostly down year in 2009, he's hitting .188 so far. I know, I know, it's WAY too early to wave red flags, but that is what we bloggers do.
Andre Ethier is only hitting .235, but has a couple of homers. A.J. Ellis is hitting .200, and we will be relying on him for a little while.
Ronnie Belliard is hitting .143, James Loney is hitting .182, and Brad Ausmus is another catcher hitting .200. Jamey Carroll hasn't played very much, going hitless in three at-bats.
There have been some positives. Doug Mientkiewicz and Manny Ramirez (both 4-for-9) are hitting .444, Casey Blake is hitting .400 and I think the most promising thing is seeing both Blake DeWitt and Xavier Paul hit. Both are hitting .333. I'm relieved the Reed Johnson is hitting .364.
Matt Kemp has been respectable at .278.
Pitching wise, how about Carlos Monasterios, Ramon Ortiz and Russ Ortiz? A combined 15 scoreless innings. I hate Russ Ortiz with every fiber of my being, but if he has a late career renaissance and can get people out in the regular season, I'll take it.
Clayton Kershaw's three scoreless innings today were really good and him and Vicente Padilla have given up just one run in five innings.
A few pitchers (Eric Gagne, Luis Ayala, Georg Sherrill, Jonathan Broxton, Chad Billingsley) have struggled, but none of them have struggled like James McDonald and Jeff Weaver.
McDonald is basically in the process of taking himself out of consideration for the fifth starter spot. Eight hits, three walks and six earned runs in four innings. He's been bad. And Weaver has given up four runs on five hits in two innings. This is concerning because these guys were our best swing men last year.
Monasterios and Ortiz Dos have been the surprises on the mound thus far.
The Dodgers are still maintaining contact with Braden Looper. I guess if they get him on a Minor League deal, I'll take it. If nothing else he might provide a few good starts, but what's more is he will motivate guys like McDonald, Scott Elbert, Charlie Haeger, Eric Stults, Monasterios, etc...
Is anyone going to Camelback Ranch this Spring?
Not going to Spring Training, but am happy with the way those three pitchers are throwing. Other than them and Kershaw, there hasn't been much to be excited about pitching wise. There hasn't been much to be excited about, period, so far.
This is after yesterdays game, but the pitching of Bills, Kershaw, and Padilla looks pretty good with Kuroda going today, the fifth starter position looks to be bumping Elbert completely out, and McD to the pen to compete against the struggling Weaver, but keeping in the mix are Stults and shinning are Ramon Ortiz and Carlos Monsteriously...F#$K Russ Ortiz...and WHY LOOPER?? We have three better and cheaper controlled options that bring far more upside with little risk, rather than a pitcher with three years starting exp. two seasons with and ERA close or above 5.00, and one good year winning 12 with an ERA close to 4.00 (and no offense to Honeycutt but that was with Duncan as pitching coach).
Not too concerned about the others hitting until this continues through the first two weeks of the season, like any other year getting off too a fast start is key but if you notice our schedule this April its only got the Tea Bags and Midgets (sorry little people in SF) from the West. And we play Pitt, Wash, Cin, NY, and Flo Rida...nobody completely dominating.
But on an offesive note, Dewitt is balling and looking to take the starting 2B job which will help our bench adding Belliard to it, he will be our new killer tomato. Im not going to spring training this year, but I'd be curious to see how Furcal is moving, if he has a spring in his step that he didnt have until Sept of last year. He is the catalyst of the offense at the leadoff spot, and if he has numbers Manny/Sir Andre/Kemp will too.
Im staying patient with the bullpen especially after I paniced last year to start the season...or as I like to really think the Dodgers listened to me and made the right corrections (they didnt make any changes really during the year). But for crying out loud is Bellesario going to show up?? Its been almost a month into spring!!! Weaver should be fine, so will Broxton and Sherrill both who are elites that get to work on things in spring rather than compete for a job so neither is going full tilt and are probably working on new pitches.
Any body have a decent scouting report on Carlos Monstermanious?? How hard does a 6'2 175lb kid throw? Bellesario came through last year but that kid is a beast and wasnt competing for a starting gig.
really happy about dewitt, he is finally looking comfortable... i agree with lasorda not too much to get worked up over yet, everyone will be fine...
Monasterios, by all reports, doesn't have great stuff. Fastball in the low 90's with some movement, and decent command. Maybe the kid has good secondary pitches and knows how to locate. I want to see what he's all about.
Monasteryioso is a mystery, he was a key part of the Abreu trade, and doesnt look to have electric stuff...I was wondering if he threw mid to upper 90's but it doesnt look like that either...if he is young and good then I hope it sticks but if this is a stab in the dark then my hope is that Ramon Ortiz is on the rebound.
Thanks Matt for the scouting report
Looks to me that dewitt has locked up the starting 2b job cause belliard isn't impressing me to start and I prefer him on the bench...our starting pitching is looking real impressive though and I'm not sure if I want ramon ortiz or monsterimus to be the fifth starter but both will make the team...imo
Lasadora's Roster
Furcal ss
Kemp cf
Ethier rf
Ramirez lf
Blake 3b
Loney 1b
Dewitt 2b
Ellis c
INF Carroll
INF Belliard
LH/1b/of Anderson
OF Johnson
C Ausmus
SS Hu
Kershaw
Billingsly
Kuroda
Padilla
Ramon Ortiz
Broxton
Sherrill
Troncoso
Kuo
Weaver
Monstermonious
The team cant have two LH hitters that cant play defense and since Dougie cant throw I think he'll need to accept AAA, and since Bellesario cant get his drunk ass into the country he wont be ready until mid april, Torre always leans towards 12 pitchers when the fifth is needed so Hu can be sent down for another relief arm or when Bellesario is ready
Lasorda, your roster is pretty much right on with what it should be.
And yes, it's gotta be DeWitt at this point.