I'm gonna start with Randy Wolf. He looked good and that's a great sign.
Continue reading Spring Training Thoughts: Game No. 2.
 |
 |
|
|
I had a bad feeling this would happen. I am sure Manny Ramirez and Scott Boras are still frustrated and now Frank McCourt sounds very frustrated.
The word is that Manny Ramirez' decision is coming tomorrow.
What do you guys think?
It's no secret that the Dodgers farm system is nowhere near where it was a few years ago, but there is a very good reason for this.
I'm here to tell you not to panic about not seeing many names high up on everybody's list of top 100 prospects.
The Dodgers still have some very talented players throughout the Minors, and though there aren't as many that are expected to be impact players, not many organizations would have a lot left if they had called up all the players Los Angeles has in the last few seasons.
This might have to be something we do every week or so. Given the situation, with the fifth starter in the Dodgers rotation up in the air, we should probably check the progress of all those involved.
This is something we might have to do throughout the season as well, but for now let's see how it looks heading into Spring Training games.
By signing Orlando Hudson, the Dodgers lost the No. 17 pick in this June's First Year Player Draft.
I say so what.
The Dodgers play in Los Angeles, so being so close to Hollywood it's perfectly natural for them to get a facelift, right?
I'm not saying they need to get nipped and tucked as much as Mickey Rourke, but a couple of procedures is necessary.
In lieu of Botox and liposuction, the Dodgers just need to sign a couple of players. They might be only two guys, but man what a difference they would make.
One major operation and another medium one is still plastic surgery.
Check out these potential lineups:
This year's Los Angeles Dodgers team is already an interesting one. I can't remember a team with more questions marks, yet with so much potential in my 23 years of following the team.
There are questions about the pitching staff, but there is also so much optimism about that very staff. There are questions about the lineup but there are so many possibilities with the lineup.
There are many questions to be answered, and I found a lot of interesting facts in Los Angeles Times' Dodgers beat writer Dylan Hernandez' most recent post, which can be found here. There is a lot of reason for hope when it comes to the pitching staff.
As soon as Randy Wolf passes a physical, he'll once again be a member of the Los Angeles Dodgers; and that is a good thing.
By no means is Wolf going to be a savior, and the Dodgers hardly need that, but he is a very important addition to a pitching staff with a lot of question marks.
If you're wondering which Dodger is going to have a breakout season, look no further than Matt Kemp.
Kemp goes into Spring Training with absolutely no doubt about being the everyday center fielder and he is also coming off a year that saw him hit .290 with 18 homers and 35 steals.
The 24-year old also drove in 76 runs and scored 93 times.
There is no questioning his talent and after seeing him scratch the surface during the 2008 season, 2009 could be a big year.
He could easily be a 25 home run, 100 RBI and 40 steals guy, and the only concern is his awareness and decision making.
I'm not going to mention his name in this post, but it's time to start seriously thinking about him not being with the team in 2009.
With things turning ugly between the agent and the owner, and the owner and the player, and the player and the general manager, and the general manager and the agent, it's time to really consider some other free agent options.
There has been a lot of talk about the Dodgers taking the money they were allocating to one specific person and spending it on three or four different players.
Gotta start with Manny Ramirez and the new deal offered by Ned Colletti and the Dodgers.
And the saga continues.
Nearly every day, there is an update that there is no update on the Manny Ramirez situation. From time to time we'll hear about perhaps the Giants would jump in at the right price and the Mets would like to have him and yada yada.
It's about time to for the Dodgers to sign the guy, get him into Spring Training on time and with a positive mindset. The last thing the Dodgers need is a disgruntled Ramirez, who is already feeling like he's not wanted.
I think Teddy KGB said it best in Rounders, in the scene where Mike McDermott mops the floor with him straight up, and in leiu of beating him to death, he goes, "Pay him. Pay that man his money."
