2015/16 Offseason: More active than Shakira's hips

[Ranma]

Yasmani Grandal dealing with an injury now?
Forearms?

idnt-h8urteam via DodgersDigest.com comments

Even though tests on Grandal's forearm aren't back yet, my source tells me that they don't foresee him missing many more games. Not severe.

LiveFyre Profile Activity Stream


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[Quake Griffin]

http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/the-dodgers-arent-wasting-clayton-kershaws-prime/

Hernandez has taken the Dodgers decision to invest in young talent as some kind of sign that the team is more concerned about the future than the present while ignoring the fact that, at present, the Dodgers are still an excellent team. Our Playoff Odds forecasts have them as a 93 win team headed into the season, with an 87% chance of reaching the postseason; the Cubs are the only team in baseball with better playoff odds, according to our projections. Think our projections are bunk? Baseball Prospectus also has the Dodgers at 93 wins, one win behind the Cubs for the best projected record in baseball. Clay Davenport’s projections put the Dodgers at 92 wins.

And these forecasts are based on current depth charts, so they are already accounting for Brett Anderson being out for mostly the whole year, Andre Ethier breaking his leg, Hyun-Jin Ryu‘s return being pushed back, Mike Bolsinger straining his oblique, and all the other things that have gone wrong for the Dodgers at camp. These low-90s forecasts are what the Dodgers are expected to win even accounting for their disastrous spring.

Dave Cameron coming with that ether for that Dylan Hernandez article.
Had to eat my share of Kershaw bars to get through it but it's the truth.

[Quake Griffin]

Ranma

you have an update or a tweet on who is in the mix for the 5th starter role?
I can't find it for Christ's sake.

I know Frias is going tonight but I want to know who else is his competition.

[Quake Griffin]

http://espn.go.com/espnradio/playPopup?id=15065049

Around the 14 minute mark.

[Ranma]

Ranma

you have an update or a tweet on who is in the mix for the 5th starter role?
I can't find it for Christ's sake.

I know Frias is going tonight but I want to know who else is his competition.

Sorry, Quake. I haven't heard or seen anything. I think at this point, it's Beachy, Lee, and Frias in consideration for the 5th starter spot to start the season with Beachy probably the favorite for now even with mild concerns over his arm. In any case, it's a temporary solution where all 3 could be cycled through for a chance to prove themselves should the man before him falter. Hopefully, our arms will start to get healthier rather than falling off like they have been.

It also looks like Grandal and Kendrick are ailing with Grandal unlikely to make Opening Day. At least Seager seems to be making encouraging progress.

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[Ranma]

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[Ranma]

Ranma

you have an update or a tweet on who is in the mix for the 5th starter role?
I can't find it for Christ's sake.

I know Frias is going tonight but I want to know who else is his competition.

Sorry, Quake. I haven't heard or seen anything. I think at this point, it's Beachy, Lee, and Frias in consideration for the 5th starter spot to start the season with Beachy probably the favorite for now even with mild concerns over his arm. In any case, it's a temporary solution where all 3 could be cycled through for a chance to prove themselves should the man before him falter. Hopefully, our arms will start to get healthier rather than falling off like they have been.

Doug Padilla, ESPN.com (3/26/16)

His odds of actually winning the race still remain iffy, but what Frias did show in a start against the San Francisco Giants was some versatility that could land him at least the long-relief role.

The right-hander won’t be greedy. If the Los Angeles Dodgers want to take him to San Diego for Opening Day in any role, he is more than willing to drive the bus down the coast if asked.
...

The Dodgers intended to make a reliever out of Frias this season if he made the major league club. If he ended up at Triple-A Oklahoma City he would probably start, but a relief role with the Dodgers was still being targeted for later in the year.

It was the slew of injuries that cracked open the starting door. First Brett Anderson went down with his back injury, moving pitchers up the depth chart, then Brandon Beachy had elbow soreness and Mike Bolsinger had an issue with his oblique.

Zach Lee would be Frias’ stiffest competition for the fifth starter at this point, a spot that is only expected to be kept warm until the reinforcements get healthy.

Dodgers' Carlos Frias Makes Case for Fifth Starter Role

[Quake Griffin]

Puig scratched today.

Roberts making it seem like it's just a precaution but if history is any indicator, precautions have turned into something bigger.

[Quake Griffin]

With the spring coming to a close this week, we have some tough decisions to make on our 25 man roster.

Laying out the problems:
- Carl Crawford
- Alex Guerrero
- Austin Barnes great spring, skill set, and athleticism
- Trayce Thompson our best or 2nd best defensive OF
- Blanton and Coleman can't be optioned (I don't believe) but some of our younger arms (Baez and Yimi) can.



How I think it will shake out
Catcher:
Ellis
Grandal

OF:
Joc
Puig
Crawford
SVS

IF:
A-Gon
Howie
Seager
Turner
****
Utley
Guerrero

P:
Kershaw
Kaz
Maeda
Wood
Frias
Blanton
Coleman
Avilan
Howell
Yimi
Hatcher
Kenley

outside looking in: Barnes (SMFH), Trayce, Baez



If I had my way:
Guerrero DFA
Crawford DFA
Barnes in
Trayce in

Not going to bug on the bullpen situation because it's more malleable but it seems like the FO pigeonholed us into Blanton and Coleman (Blanton for sure) and it doesn't seem like they legitimately had to fight for a position. Just crossing my fingers they turn out to be upgrades because it means one of Yimi or Baez will not be up with us. I think generally we like Yimi more….so we'll see.

Anybody else wanna give our 25 man roster a try? I know Neddy is good with this.

[Neddy]

With the spring coming to a close this week, we have some tough decisions to make on our 25 man roster.

Laying out the problems:
- Carl Crawford
- Alex Guerrero
- Austin Barnes great spring, skill set, and athleticism
- Trayce Thompson our best or 2nd best defensive OF
- Blanton and Coleman can't be optioned (I don't believe) but some of our younger arms (Baez and Yimi) can.



How I think it will shake out
Catcher:
Ellis
Grandal

OF:
Joc
Puig
Crawford
SVS

IF:
A-Gon
Howie
Seager
Turner
****
Utley
Guerrero

P:
Kershaw
Kaz
Maeda
Wood
Frias
Blanton
Coleman
Avilan
Howell
Yimi
Hatcher
Kenley

outside looking in: Barnes (SMFH), Trayce, Baez



If I had my way:
Guerrero DFA
Crawford DFA
Barnes in
Trayce in

Not going to bug on the bullpen situation because it's more malleable but it seems like the FO pigeonholed us into Blanton and Coleman (Blanton for sure) and it doesn't seem like they legitimately had to fight for a position. Just crossing my fingers they turn out to be upgrades because it means one of Yimi or Baez will not be up with us. I think generally we like Yimi more….so we'll see.

Anybody else wanna give our 25 man roster a try? I know Neddy is good with this.

I think there is a good chance Barnes make the opning day roster now that Grandal is not getting better as hoped.

blanton won't be sent down, not sure about Coleman. I like him and hope we keep him, but just not sure what our FO will do.

we should make Guerrero a designated pinch hitter in the mold of Olmedo Saenz and Dave Hansen.

[Quake Griffin]

With the spring coming to a close this week, we have some tough decisions to make on our 25 man roster.

Laying out the problems:
- Carl Crawford
- Alex Guerrero
- Austin Barnes great spring, skill set, and athleticism
- Trayce Thompson our best or 2nd best defensive OF
- Blanton and Coleman can't be optioned (I don't believe) but some of our younger arms (Baez and Yimi) can.



How I think it will shake out
Catcher:
Ellis
Grandal

OF:
Joc
Puig
Crawford
SVS

IF:
A-Gon
Howie
Seager
Turner
****
Utley
Guerrero

P:
Kershaw
Kaz
Maeda
Wood
Frias
Blanton
Coleman
Avilan
Howell
Yimi
Hatcher
Kenley

outside looking in: Barnes (SMFH), Trayce, Baez



If I had my way:
Guerrero DFA
Crawford DFA
Barnes in
Trayce in

Not going to bug on the bullpen situation because it's more malleable but it seems like the FO pigeonholed us into Blanton and Coleman (Blanton for sure) and it doesn't seem like they legitimately had to fight for a position. Just crossing my fingers they turn out to be upgrades because it means one of Yimi or Baez will not be up with us. I think generally we like Yimi more….so we'll see.

Anybody else wanna give our 25 man roster a try? I know Neddy is good with this.

I think there is a good chance Barnes make the opning day roster now that Grandal is not getting better as hoped.

blanton won't be sent down, not sure about Coleman. I like him and hope we keep him, but just not sure what our FO will do.

we should make Guerrero a designated pinch hitter in the mold of Olmedo Saenz and Dave Hansen.

I am happy for Barnes to get his opportunity even though I'm upset about Grandal's injury. I'm a fan of this Barnes kid. Did you see how athletic he was the other night in picking up that wild pitch and throwing the runner out at the plate? Was awesome.

Looks like Yimi, Pedro and Avilan have options. Coleman Doesn't. So I think one of the players with the options will be the odd man out.

And pass on Guerrero. We have better people to come in and pinch hit and he is sucking up a roster spot from really capable players.

[Ranma]

[tweet]https://twitter.com/kengurnick/status/713904814665523202[/tweet][tweet]https://twitter.com/kengurnick/status/713942786681085952[/tweet][tweet]https://twitter.com/kengurnick/status/713953030362701824[/tweet]

idnt-h8urteam via DodgersDigest.com comments

Reporting: Puig's injury not considered serious. Just precautionary.

Ryu also threw a BP session today and unleashed several breaking pitches. He throw close to max effort and looked pretty good. Velo is not where it use to be but getting closer.

Seager is ready to go, went 3-4 in the backlot of Camelback. Several executives were there to observe his developmemt: Kapler, Friedman, Brynes, and Anthopoulos.

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[Ranma]

Doug Padilla, ESPN.com (3/27/16)

Austin Barnes' ability to play all over the field is only one of the reasons he seems to have emerged as one of manager Dave Roberts' favorite players in camp.

Roberts won't admit to any favorites, of course, but he has given Barnes enough plaudits to reveal his appreciation for a player that made an early impression and continued to get attention for all the right reasons.

Roberts was asked if he might see himself in Barnes in any way.

"I relate in the sense that he's a guy that he leaves it out there every single day," Roberts said. "He's a guy that cares; he's a likeable guy. He understands the game of baseball. He just has power, the bat to ball, everything. There are a lot of things that play that make him a winning player and just getting to know him over the course of six weeks, we're lucky to have him."
...

The Dodgers view Barnes as a catcher first, at the present time, but Barnes won't limit the possibilities.

"No, I think I'm just going out there and playing baseball," he said. "I really don't set in stone one thing for me because you don't know where it's going to take you. But yeah, I think I'm feeling really good behind the plate right now."

Austin Barnes' Ticket Nearly Punched for Opening Trip


Doug Padilla, ESPN.com (3/27/16)

A 1.89 ERA through 19 Cactus League innings is more than just “good,” as the Dodgers are feeling confident with their No. 3 starter. The right-hander is expected to make his regular-season debut on April 6 at San Diego, unless the Dodgers unexpectedly bump him up to the No. 2 spot.
...

The reality is that despite an offseason physical exam that led the club to restructure his eight-year contract, Maeda not only has been the rare Dodger with a clean bill of health, he also has been one of the most maintenance-free members of the roster.
...

At question was a bat that Maeda had been using, one that he brought with him from Japan. Roberts told Maeda that if he could hit a home run with a different bat in just five pitches, Roberts would buy Maeda dinner. Maeda grabbed the new bat and took Roberts deep on the first pitch.

Kenta Maeda's Grade A, Prime Spring Continues

[Quake Griffin]

Howie Kendrick can possibly start the season on the DL? (you have any tweets for that Ranma?)

Grandal down.
Howie down.

Barnes has to be in uniform on opening day.

[Ranma]

Howie Kendrick can possibly start the season on the DL? (you have any tweets for that Ranma?)

[tweet]https://twitter.com/kengurnick/status/714156669639372800[/tweet][tweet]https://twitter.com/alannarizzo/status/714160880036876288[/tweet][tweet]https://twitter.com/alannarizzo/status/714160644245692416[/tweet]

Ken Gurnick, MLB.com (3/27/16)

On Sunday, Roberts indicated that second baseman Howie Kendrick (left calf) will definitely remain in Arizona rehabbing when the club leaves for California on Wednesday. Catcher Yasmani Grandal (strained right forearm) and infielder Alex Guerrero (strained left knee) are likely to stay back as well. Any of them could open the season on the disabled list.

"We could go either way [on Grandal]," Roberts said. "I'm hopeful there still are ways of maneuvering at-bats so he can open with us. Howie is feeling a little better today, but baseball is still a couple days away. He's a Major League player and he knows how to get through it."

Kendrick to Stay Behind When Camp Breaks

[Ranma]

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[Quake Griffin]

Fangraphs showing the dodgers a lot of love today in these articles.

[Quake Griffin]

http://www.dodgersnation.com/dodgers-news-clayton-kershaw-is-not-a-fan-of-shifts/2016/03/29/

Shifting works Kershaw. I can't believe Dave is gonna cave and not implement shifts for him. Just like we have AJ Ellis around when we have 2 catchers that are better than him.


On those Fangraphs Articles:
Welcome Back Alex Wood.
New arm angle. Bump in velo that he lost in 2014 and 2015
http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/welcome-back-alex-wood/



#1 Rank Starting Pitching
http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/2016-positional-power-rankings-starting-rotations-1-15/

#2 Rank Bullpens
http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/2016-positional-power-rankings-relief-pitchers-1-15/

Projections are projections but the Alex Wood news is good news for us and that trade we made at the deadline last July.

[Ranma]

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[Quake Griffin]

1:45:25
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GaNIXRbvMP8[/youtube]


I hope he remembers the most embarrassing moment of his career and how the shift would have made his only mistake of that game a 1 run HR, instead of a devastating 3 run HR when he comments against the shift.


whatever.
go out there and win the world series