Dodger Spring Training: The Good, The Bad, & The Ugly

We're a few days into Spring Training now so I thought it might be an opportune time to take a look at how our Boys In Blue seem to be fairing in the opening days of training camp in scenic Glendale, Arizona...

The Good

     Ethier avoids arbitration

           Arbitration is always a tricky thing for a fan.  On the one hand, you'd like to see your team not get financially raped but if the player has it coming to him, you don't want to see him get hosed either.  But the real hard thing with arbitration is the feelings it created.  The team feels the player wasn't worth what he wants and that he's being unreasonable in his demands.  The player feels the team doesn't respect his contributions.  No matter how the hearing results - and the Dodgers haven't lost one since Kim Ng took over on that front - bitter feelings seem to always remain.  So, I was very happy to hear that the Dodgers avoided going to arbitration with any players this year with a last-second deal with Andre Ethier.  And when I say "last-second," I mean it as apparently the deal was signed in the hallway outside the hearing.   Hopefully both sides can put it behind them and get down to business.

The Bad

      The Dodgers' Starting Pitching Woes

           Despite some good news on the Jason Schmidt front - it appears he may actually be ready to take the #5 slot in the rotation for the start of the season - this area of the team is a definite weakness and an area to be quite concerned with.  With the departure of Brad Penny and more specifically, Derek Lowe, over the past few months, the Dodgers faced a situation where they really could have used more than Randy Wolf.  The current rotation looks like Chad Billingsley, Hiroki Kuroda, Clayton Kershaw, Randy Wolf, and Jason Schmidt - which on paper should be solid at worst.  Buuuuuuut... well, Billingsley is coming off a broken leg in the off-season... Kuroda's still talking about shoulder tightness... Kershaw's just a kid... Wolf is Wolf... and Schmidt hasn't pitched in ages.  There's a ton of rookies and journeyman jostling to make the team as well but it's obviously a problem spot.  I'm optimistic but very realistic at the same time.

The Ugly

     Brad Penny vs Larry Bowa:  Let's Get It On!

           And not in a sexy Marvin Gaye kind of way either.  Penny fired the first shot earlier this week by going on to the Boston media about how happy he was to be out of LA since apparently he felt we wanted him to pitch hurt last season.  He also called out Larry Bowa for talking shit about him to other players behind his back.  Bowa retaliated by questioning his heart, his work ethic, his stamina, his loyalty and a few other things.  It was really quite the fiery reply so there's obviously some bad blood there.  In the end though, it never turns out well when a player blasts his former team.  To his new team, he already looks like an ungrateful whiner with questionable team spirit.  To his old team, they feel betrayed [especially the fans] for the support they gave him all along.  It's all part of modern sports though so what can you really say?

Maybe I'll make this a weekly thing throughout the spring.

Anyone like that idea?

Almost There

Don't look now but the Dodgers are suddenly just barely out of the top spot in their division despite one of the worst starts I can remember. They're still under .500 but they seem to be coming around a bit lately. They could be on the verge of breaking through.

There still is a lot of health issues to work through. Penny's out til at least the break. Furcal's getting back surgery that could potentially end his season. Nomar and Andruw are fresh off injury rehabs which means we don't know what we can expect out of him. Kuroda's coming off an injury. Lots of questions that need to be worked through and soon.

I'm glad to see they dropped out of the Sabathia race. As much as people think the Dodgers need that losing streak-snapping ace, I don't want to see names like Billingsley and Kemp shipped out for him. I'm okay with a starting rotation of a couple #2 starters and change. Very few teams in baseball have that legitimate ace so that should be the least of their concerns - especially with such an amazing first half performance from the staff.

Right now, it's all offense - clutch offense especially. I think the tools are in place for the most part. It's just a matter of luck and maturation to get over that next hurdle. Personally, I hope Coletti stands pat unless he can make minor upgrades at low costs. I have faith in the core of players they put together to work their shit out and come together.

It looks like it won't take a world-beater to get into the playoffs from the NL West - and once you're in, anything can happen. Just ask the Rockies. Now's the time to make the move though. Keep pushing hard and get over the top.

GO DODGERS!

You Tryin' To Say Jesus Christ Can't Hit A Curveball?

Here's a brief rundown on the news out of Dodgertown as we get closer and closer to Opening Day:

** Clayton Kershaw makes headlines
You've seen them... you know you have. Hyping up Kershaw's killer curveball now known throughout baseball as "Public Enemy No. 1" Thankfully, it appears that Joe Torre has the good sense to let the kid stew in the minors a little longer before bringing him up to the big leagues. But just to whet your appetite, take a look at this hammer...



Lawd have mercy.

** Who's on third?
Nomar's wrist is still sore. LaRoche is out to 6 to 8 weeks. Abreu has an injured ass [completely and totally serious.] They've got Hu taking grounders at third. They've got Young taking grounders at third. And every friggin' baseball rumor site has Dodgers trade rumors for third-baggers. Personally, I let Hu or Young do it. Nomar should be ready soon enough. LaRoche will be back before you know it. I know, I know... they don't like either of those options anyways but I don't like any of the trade options. So, unless Coletti is about bust out a Mitch Kupchak, hold your ground and keep your cards close.

** Tommy being Tommy
The newsbirds were all excited because Tommy stormed the field during his first exhibition game he was coaching today. It gives me a chuckle but it's just Tommy being Tommy. He wouldn't know any other way. I did find his protests over having to stick to pitch counts kinda funny though. They quoted him as saying, "You want to be the guy to tell Koufax he's done? The pen's got it? Get the hell off my mound?" I'd rather tell Koufax than Drysdale but... yeah, I'm glad they've got Tommy doing pitch counts. I'm also glad Tommy's still using small ball to show some people how it's done. Apparently he put a hit and run in motion with Pierre on first, sending him from first to third where he scored on a GDP. Much better than playing station to station and waiting for the 3-run homer.

** 5th starter
Loaiza inched closer to getting that spot with a nice outing over the weekend. As well as Chan Ho has pitched, I still say he's got no shot unless Loaiza implodes over the next couple weeks. He's simply making too much money to get passed up for a NRI.

** Brad Penny pinch hit
Hehe... good shit. Apparently with half the team leaving for China tomorrow, they didn't leave enough hitters for Tommy so in a potential run-scoring situation today, he sent up Penny to take some hacks. Didn't pay off but I fondly remember the days of Fernando pinch hitting and Orel pinch-running for the Blue Crew... or as we call them, "the good ol' days."