Prospects and trade discussion

[Ranma]

What reservations do you have about Utley's defense?

I wasn't sure if age had caught up with him in regards to his glove, but his recuperation from the ankle injury poses further concerns. The scouting report below cites defense as the weakest part of his game despite his continued work on that aspect.




I just read that Sweeney would have had to be put on the 40-man roster in order to be protected from the Rule 5 draft in November. Now that coupled with the DFA-ing of Callaspo makes the deal more palatable, but it still smells a bit like Colletti's aftershave.

Eric Stephen, TrueBlueLA.com (8/19/15)

Sweeney would have had to be added to the 40-man roster this November to protect him from being taken in the Rule 5 Draft. The 24-year-old hit .271/.332/.409 with 30 doubles and nine home runs in 116 games for Triple-A Oklahoma City, with 32 steals in 45 attempts.

Dodgers Send Darnell Sweeney & John Richy to Phillies in Chase Utley Trade

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[Ranma]

I didn't know that Chase Utley was originally selected by the Dodgers 76th overall in the 2nd round of the 1997 draft. Eventually, the Phillies selected him 15th overall in the 2000 draft...two picks before the Dodgers selected Ben Diggins 17th overall.

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[Quake Griffin]

Drafted Utley and drafted Victorino as well.
SMFH.

I wonder if this move is to make sure that Peraza doesnt spend any significant service time in the majors this year.

also wonder if we'll see **** in LF and Joc in CF against righties while Utley plays 2nd.
that would be juicy but we have this stupid log jam of OF

[Quake Griffin]

“It’s been a rough stretch. Bullpen’s in general are part of the team where performance tends to be the most volatile. The thing with us is every guy in our bullpen has had a track record and stretches this year where they’ve been really good. Part of it is a few of our guys hitting speed bumps at the same time. … We have to find ways to get the most out of their ability, whether looking at their mix of pitches, sequences, getting them in the right matchups, which I actually think we have done. But there’s a track record and an ability record with these guys. There’s a reason they’re on the team.”

Zaidi spoke earlier today and said this move doesnt impact whether they will add another arm and here were his thoughts on the bullpen

[Neddy]

**** lets bring in KRod. he will be a one heck of a setup man for Jensen and lessen the pressure on JJ.
let's take on his 2+1 remaining contract and have them throw in an international signing $$$ and relieve of their financial burden while throwing them some bone of fringe prospect or two. knowing that even if they buy him out of 2017 option, they still owe him more than 10 million from today, I don't see why they wouldn't bite. hell let's trade em chris Hatcher and some 20th rounder playing in the rookie league.

Krod for the 8th
Jensen to close.

suddenly we play 7 inning baseball. we have JP and Avilan as a point relief lefties and everyone else for the 7th. our starters only need to go to 6th comes playoffs.

[Ranma]

Jharel Cotton may only be ranked 15th overall in the current Dodgers' prospect pipeline according to MLB.com, but I have a feeling he will shoot up the chart in short order to at least 6th overall.

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[Ranma]

It's more likely that Utley working out at 3B is preparation for Kendrick's return, but it could also be a possibility for next season to have Seager and Utley take over the left side of the infield.

Ken Gurnick, MLB.com (8/26/15)

Career second baseman Chase Utley began a potential conversion to third base Wednesday afternoon in a brief workout that included manager Don Mattingly and bench coach Tim Wallach, a former All-Star third baseman.
...

As Mattingly described the difference between playing second base and third base, it sounded like night and day.

"It's definitely a different throw," he said. "Over at third, it is quick. The ball is on you awfully quick. If you're not coming up with it clean, you're pretty much not getting guys. It's a different angle, the ball's on you quickly when you get out of the middle."

The 36-year-old Utley is a 13-year veteran and a six-time All-Star, and he has been considered a solid defender, although he has never won a Gold Glove. He's also never played third base in the Major Leagues, with the only 31 appearances he's made away from second base coming at first base.

Utley Takes Preparatory Grounders at Third

[Neddy]

between Utley and Turner at 3rd base, I choose Justin. If Utley does not mind being a back up, that's one thing but I doubt that is the case. I also think with Turner's knee issues, he is better off being our utility player but as all players are, I doubt he will be happy with that role, which means we need a defensively equipped 3rd base off the bench. we should let go of utley and Kendrick, and **** is the best suited back up utility player we can have. hope we get a compensation pick but I am not counting on it. if I have to choose between the two, I choose Kendrick over Utley. Chase's defense makes Jeff Kent look like a perennial gold glove. if it wasn't for his error, we should have won the game 7-0.

having said all that, the Phlladelphia middle infield revival should be shut down yesterday. Jimmy is done and only Donny Potato thinks there is a value over replacement that is worthy of everyday start.

[Quake Griffin]

Utley's defense, by the metrics, has been a plus going into this year. Any shortcomings he's had this year I'm attributing to his ankle issues.

I can't tell you how he dropped that ball last night…but it doesnt look like he's having trouble getting to balls since he's been here…but of course we need a much bigger sample size than 4 games.

Jimmy should not be brought back next year but I'm not sure that there is anybody in our organization who can currently handle SS either.

[Ranma]

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Please no. Stop with the retreads and give the kids a chance already. It's been past time for Seager. At least there's movement with our other phenom: Urias joins Seager in Oklahoma City.

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[Ranma]

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[Ranma]

A former Ray from Tampa Bay. Also, originally drafted by the Dodgers in the 25th round of the 2004 MLB draft.

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[Ranma]

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[Neddy]

[tweet]https://twitter.com/Ken_Rosenthal/status/638737970955223041[/tweet]

maybe it is finally the time to give a try out to Loah LInares.

[Ranma]

Jonathan Mayo, MLB.com (9/3/15)

...

After a lull in July, Seager picked it back up in August and the three games he played in September, hitting .300 with four homers and 24 RBIs in 34 games. Seager has a very advanced approach at the plate, especially for his age, and doesn't strike out much for someone with his power potential. He has a smooth and balanced swing, uses all fields well and has both bat speed and strength.

Since Seager was drafted, most saw a permanent move to third base in his future, given his size (6-foot-4, 215 pounds) and relative lack of speed. Seager, whose older brother Kyle is the Mariners' third baseman, has used that as motivation, working hard to show he can stay at the premium position. And that's primarily where he's played, though he's also appeared in 19 games at third this season.

That increases Seager's versatility and gives him a better chance to get playing time now that he's up. He'd be an almost certain upgrade offensively over shortstop Jimmy Rollins (.633 OPS in 2015, .690 in the second half) and Justin Turner (.520 OPS in August), who's been the primary third baseman lately. With regular playing time, Seager should immediately provide average and on-base skills with some extra-base pop. He's capable at shortstop and could eventually be an above-average defender at the hot corner.

What to Expect from Seager in Major Leagues


Cliff Corcoran, Sports Illustrated (9/3/15)

Whatever Seager’s role on the team over the remainder of the season, however, the implication of his callup is clear: He will be starting on the left side of the Dodgers' infield in 2016, be it at shortstop or third base. In fact, with Rollins, the injured Howie Kendrick and waiver-trade addition Chase Utley all due to become free agents in November, the Dodgers could have an all-rookie–double-play combination next April, with Seager at shortstop and Peraza, a top-50 prospect in his own right on those midseason lists, at second base.

Still, as exciting as Seager’s promotion might be for baseball fans of all stripes (save perhaps the Giants’ orange and black), we must temper our expectations. As productive as Seager is expected to be in his prime, he has hit just .276/.331/.450 since a late April promotion to Triple A in the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League. He has hit for a more power of late, posting a .294/.333/.541 line over his last 19 games dating back to Aug. 16, but he doesn’t arrive in the majors as a player who was destroying Triple A pitching and is about to be unleashed on the National League. Rather, he arrives as a supremely talented youngster with a bright future who could very well improve both the Dodgers’ roster and lineup in the short term. What we’ll see from Seager over the remainder of the season is more likely to be a preview of his potential rather than the realization of it.

Dodgers Call Up Top Prospect Corey Seager, But What Impact Will He Have?

[Ranma]

Pedro Gomez says a scout who's followed Corey Seager even before he was drafted compared him to Cal Ripken, Jr. and Derek Jeter in his approach to the game and Paul Goldschmidt in makeup. All of which is indeed quite the high praise.

[Neddy]

Kid is going to be a star, we all know that.
Kid is the closest thing we have as a complete player among our recent farmhands. we know that too.

but the kid is in the lineup, batting 5th because Donny Potato likes Seager's approach as it probably reminds him of his own. Seager doesn't strike out a lot, and has a sweet stroke, and can change his approach depending on the situation. the same is the reason why Joc has been in the doghouse, despite his struggles to get a hit, he still has been superb at getting on base. a player like Joc needs to be out there so he can figure it out on his own, not sitting on the bench as a punishment for not being like Don Mattingly in the batter's box.

[Ranma]

To be fair, Mattingly started playing him again because he was implementing some of the changes McGwire was working with him on adjusting. He does seem more composed now whereas before he wasn't really close with his swings during his funk.

[Quake Griffin]

I thought Friedman was having input on the lineup this year.

I'm not sure we can put all those moves on Donnie.
I do put the lefty-righty thing on Donnie…because that's in his nature…and we've stacked lefties again tonight…Hopefully this RHP isn't actually good against lefties like Fiers and Arrieta

edit:
it's Shields and his splits are in our favor tonight.

[Neddy]

To be fair, Mattingly started playing him again because he was implementing some of the changes McGwire was working with him on adjusting. He does seem more composed now whereas before he wasn't really close with his swings during his funk.

I understand developing a young talent that needs coaching, but I don't think it was a wise move to sit the superior center fielder who still sported better OBP during the last 28 days for Rollins who was supposedly helping the dodgers win by leading off with his .300 OBP during the same span.

but the bottom line is, we are now 6.5 ahead of SF and there are only 28 games after tonight, so I can't argue with the result, only the intent.