2017 REGULAR SEASON LA Dodgers & international

[Neddy]

well? Josh Fields did his job. we are still down by just 1 run with 3 more outs to burn.

[Quake Griffin]

This guy is still battling blisters.

Unbelievable.

But totally believable.
-__-


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[Ranma]

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[Quake Griffin]

I know you wanted Lourdes Gourriel...

But IMO...we really CANNOT get outbid for Ohtani.
Hopefully he was serious about being a Dodger a couple years ago.


2020 Rotation if healthy and none of these guys get traded?
Kershaw
Otani/Urias
Urias/Otani
Yadier/Buehler
Buehler/Yadier


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[Ranma]

I know you wanted Lourdes Gourriel...

But IMO...we really CANNOT get outbid for Ohtani.
Hopefully he was serious about being a Dodger a couple years ago.


2020 Rotation if healthy and none of these guys get traded?
Kershaw
Otani/Urias
Urias/Otani
Yadier/Buehler
Buehler/Yadier

Yeah, I wanted Tito bad, but don't get me wrong. Lourdes Gurriel, Jr. is more like a better version of **** Hernandez who could possibly develop into being a better player than Logan Forsythe. Shohei Otani is a better player than Yu Darvish, whom I previously wanted the Dodgers to pursue as well but we were run by the penny-pinching McCourt then. If I had to choose only one between the two, Otani would be my choice every time.

The only problem is that he loves hitting so much, that an AL team might have the inside track to sign him now. Plus, we're still bound from offering the most money in a contract bid given our international-signing restrictions that are still in effect through July, 2018.

However, your projected pitching rotation basically makes up the dream scenario I've had for the past few years now fronted by a big 3 of Kershaw, Otani, and Urias. Alvarez was my choice for 4th starter with De Leon occupying the 5th spot. Buehler replacing De Leon actually looks even more promising assuming--like you said--health will not be an issue for any one of them.

If we can convince him to take less money upfront with implied acknowledgement that we'll reward him handsomely later on to make up the relatively small amount he'll be losing up front with the initial bids, we can also offer him a chance to platoon in LF on days he's not pitching with the understanding that it'd be on a trial basis and that pitching should be his primary focus. He could continue to play the OF as long as it does not affect his pitching performance and development.

The good news is the kid does not seem at all overly concerned with money. He cares most about competing at the highest level.
The endorsement opportunities in L.A. with a sizable Japanese population would be an attractive incentive in its own right.
Plus, given that I'm fairly certain the Dodgers would be willing to pay double the cost to sign him in tax penalties, that same amount of money that would have gone to MLB--most likely even less than that--would be routed directly to Otani himself instead,
but just at a later date, which the organization could park and collect interest on in the meantime.

Basically, despite the obstacles presently in our way to sign Shohei, I still see a realistic path to actually convincing him to join the Dodgers. Our previous and current relationships with and handling of previous Japanese pitchers like Nomo, Saito, Kuroda, and now Maeda provides a good track record. Plus, our developmental staff has a good reputation to help develop his skill set both as a pitcher and hitter. Not to mention, Kershaw himself could be a big selling point in presenting the opportunity to watch, learn from,
and otherwise interact with the best pitcher on the planet as a teammate.

[Quake Griffin]

Threats threats threats.

Can we put one on the board in Denver of all places?


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[Quake Griffin]

Thank you Toles


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[Neddy]

it's all up to Maeda tomorrow.

I have a feeling that our offense will come alive.

[Quake Griffin]

Patience is a virtue.

Bats alive against LHP.
It was slightly annoying to start the year that way against lefties.


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[Neddy]

Otani pulled his hammy, out for 4 weeks minimum.

I think it is a good thing for him to experience some injuries now, to focus back on his pitching first than tampering with pitching/DH over in AL.

hey the first hit for Barnes this season is a blooper triple!

[Quake Griffin]

How did Toles make that error on the basepaths?

Whats worse is he's fast and a double from Corey could have scored him.


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[Quake Griffin]

Otani pulled his hammy, out for 4 weeks minimum.

I think it is a good thing for him to experience some injuries now, to focus back on his pitching first than tampering with pitching/DH over in AL.

hey the first hit for Barnes this season is a blooper triple!

You don't think he can be an elite hitter?


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[Ranma]

You don't think he can be an elite hitter?

I know your question was directed at Neddy and I'm looking forward to his answer myself since he actually watches NPB action, but I wanted to add my two cents. As I've mentioned before, I've always been personally skeptical of hitters from Nippon Professional Baseball transitioning well over to Major League Baseball with a few exceptions like Ichiro Suzuki. However, some of the recent power-hitting imports are acclimating relatively well, but I don't think they're taking the league by storm.

With regards to Otani specifically, his swing seems to have a pronounced uppercut geared for power. I think MLB pitchers will easily exploit that and, while Shohei may make adjustments to that, I think he will be slower to keep up as a hitter, especially compared to his acumen as a pitcher. Having said that, he could be Madison Bumgarner as a good-hitting pitcher. I just don't see everyday batter or fielder at the Major League level.

[Quake Griffin]

Hoping our issues with lefties are over.

Nice to see Forsythe hit well yesterday.

Nice to see Justin get a double off of left hand pitching...i think him turning the corner on LHP could be huge for our offense. I still don't get how he struggled with it to begin with.



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[Quake Griffin]

https://www.milb.com/milb/news/dodgers-prospects-mitch-white-alex-hermeling-pitch-first-no-hitter-in-rancho-cucamonga-quakes-history/c-223042510/t-185364810

[Ranma]

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[TKainZero]

Come on puig

Can't even catch a fly ball!!!


And that error ends up costing a run, and wood had to work much Harder and had a couple deep pitch counts


It was so weird
Like as it was happening I just expected puig to mess it up somehow ( like when Russell kicked the ball and fell over. Slow motion pain.. like a really bad punch line)

[Ranma]

Granted Puig didn't do him any favors with that drop of the would-be final out in the 3rd inning, but Alex Wood isn't doing himself any favors with his struggle to close out that inning if he wants to prove he has the mental toughness and stuff to last as a starting pitcher.

[TKainZero]

Baseball is so hard to watch

Why did the dodgers not tag up!!!
Ahh
Why

I hate watching baseball

What would vin have said there

[Ranma]

Yeah, I agree we should have forced the issue with the throw from CF even with the shallow catch, but to not score with the bases loaded, no outs and a 3-0 count at one point in the 7th inning is unfathomable.

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