Ducking in with The Donald
For those unfamiliar with the Duck, you can check out the archived Duck Talk Section at TrueBlueLA or the newer Duck Talk here on Dodgers, Yesterday and Today. We ask the questions we want to ask and try to see through the clichéd responses we normally get. Don’t get confused, this is a complete fabrication based on interviews within my troubled mind.
The Duck decided to branch out today and was lucky enough to get an audience with Mr. Trump. The Duck had in his favor not being part of the mainstream media.
Duck: I’m quacking today with President-elect Trump. Yes, I’m as shocked as most of you are. First off, congratulations have to be made. I’ll admit a year ago I thought your campaign was a joke, and since you treated it like a joke we seemed to be on the same page. You said you’d win and by-gum you did win. You did everything that any professional campaign manager would warn against, and yet you won the electoral college and are now about to become arguably the most powerful man in the world. How?
Donald Trump: People just love me. They love me. Have you ever seen my rallies? They love me. You know why they love me? Because I tell them what they want to hear? They want jobs. I tell them I’ll make jobs. They want to feel safe. I tell them I’ll remove what scares them. They want to feel important again. I tell them how great they are. It isn’t rocket science. It is just bullshit, but no one is better at it, then I am.
Duck: Your opponent had one huge issue over her head, you had about twenty-five but her one issue proved bigger than all of yours in the key states. Why?
Donald Trump: Because I told them it was a big issue and they believe everything I tell them. And then I told them none of my issues were a big deal, they were all fabrications, much like this interview and they believed that. American’s don’t like details, they like punditry, and baby, I’ve got punditry by the boatload. You know the best part?
Duck: No, what is the best part?
Donald Trump: I didn’t even have to point out she didn’t have any balls.
Duck: Do you think you’d have beaten Joe Biden or Larry David?
Donald Trump: I think I’d have beaten anyone but I was running against Hillary. So much baggage. Melania deleted my tweet about her but I thought it was great. “Hillary has so much baggage she’s already an old bag”. All those people were insiders so my message would have been the same. If they have so many solutions for our problems why haven’t you done anything in the past 30 years? In three months I’m going to do more than they did in all their collective years in public service. It is going to great. You just wait, it is going to be great.
Duck: How about Elizabeth Warren?
Donald Trump:(nervous laugh) heh, between you and me, she scares the hell out of me. I am glad she sat this one out and the Democrats gave me someone I could really campaign against. She’s got big balls.
Duck: A wise duck once told me not to mistake quantity with quality.
Donald Trump: Was that Scrooge McDuck? I’ve always liked him, my kind of guy. I’m thinking of him for the Secretary of the Treasury.
Duck: No, it was Daffy.
Donald Trump: What a loser he is.
Duck: You made so many promises, some seem to contradict with the party whose ticket you ran on and the current leadership in the house. Are you going to try to work with the GOP or use your electoral college mandate to push through your promises?
Donald Trump: Can’t tell you yet, but whatever I end up doing, it will be great.
Duck: The children of the illegal immigrants are called the Dreamers. It would seem you are about to turn their dreams into nightmares. Under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals act that President Obama signed into law four years ago many of these illegal immigrants have been working and paying taxes including Social Security. Do you have any empathy for them?
Donald Trump: I do. Many of them work hard but for me to realize the promise I made to my supporters I’ll have to end the DACA program. They won’t get deported immediately like their parents if they already have their work permits, but eventually they will have to leave our country. They will be the collateral damage of the immigration policy that we have to enact to make America Great again.
Duck: Why can’t they be part of making America Great again? Studies have shown over and over how productive these particular illegal immigrants are. Why does there have to be collateral damage?
Donald Trump: Hey, the liberals can’t complain about collateral damage. At least I’m not killing them just deporting them. I haven’t heard any cries from the Hillary supporters about the collateral damage the Drone program has accomplished. We all have to do things to make America Safe, and if that means killing non – combatants with drones, or deporting intelligent hard working illegals, it has to be done. Nothing is bigger than making America safe. Nothing. Our lives are way more important than anyone else’s.
Duck: Are you really going to build a wall? That seems so silly?
Donald Trump: Of course I’m going to build a wall. Of course, it is silly, but it was what got my base excited in the first place. It is pure gold. First off you have all your lazy white guys upset at all these hard working illegal immigrants doing work they’d never stop playing video games to do. And that made them feel bad about themselves. Even if they have never seen an illegal immigrant they can see they ain’t white, and if they ain’t white, they are a threat to their whiteness. The best way to make them feel good about themselves is to get rid of those who make you feel insecure. And the other big thing is how many jobs I can create building this wall. I just have to make sure it is built with non-union labor so I can keep the costs down. I wonder if I can use deported Mexican labor to build the wall?
Duck: Other groups who seem to be in big trouble with your election would be anti – abortionists, environmentalists, Muslims, transgender folk, possibly the LBGT community? You say you have the greatest respect for the LBGT community but your VP sure doesn’t. Can you interfere with the States who have approved same-sex marriages?
Donald Trump – I know what I can say I can do, I have little idea of what I can actually do. Remember I”m not about the details, just the punditry.
Duck: What do you think about the protests around the country?
Donald Trump – I wouldn’t say around the country. Just NY and Los Angeles the bastions of the elite left. I think it is unfair. They should wait to see how I screw them before protesting.
Duck: If Hillary Clinton had won, wouldn’t your supporters be protesting right now?
Donald Trump – hell yeah, but I don’t understand your point.
Duck: You have shown a vindictive streak in your life, I’d expect many people have made your get even with list. Who would be on the top, the first media/comic who made fun of your small hands? Your hair? Your orange hue? Your nondisclosure of your taxes?
Donald Trump: It really hurt my feeling when they made fun of my hands. I had to tell everyone I had a big dick because you know what they say about small hands.
Duck: I know, I didn’t quite understand the point of your small hands. You said so many things that was actual news but some felt the need to make fun of your small hands.
Donald Trump: And my taxes, it is like no one on the left ever worked in business. No one pays any tax unless they have to, and they made it sound like I should be paying taxes just to be paying taxes instead of using the loopholes that Congress has given business for years and years.
Duck: I know, it is like saying “I can grab a pussy” and not legally paying taxes are equal issues when one is the braggadocio of a man caught up in his celebrity, and saying things clearly disgusting whose actual action would be illegal, while the other is the work of a smart businessman doing what every single business owner in America does. That said, not paying taxes, and not disclosing your tax returns are two different beasts. Given how large your influence is, it would have been fitting for America to see just exactly what economic interests you have aligned with on your campaign, and if you would benefit from these policies personally.
Duck: Speaking of Taxes how soon do you expect to cut a deal with Apple and the other American conglomerates who have parked about 2 Trillion outside of the US. It seems strange to this duck that the last administration never addressed this.
Donald Trump: Details again. You know I don’t do details, but when I do act, it will be great, and part of making America Great again.
Duck : Since your election, some of the group that I’d classify as deplorable have felt emboldened to commit many hate crimes. Are you going to stand up to those supporters or simply let it ride?
Donald Trump: I may say I’m going to represent all Americans, but you know, I won’t. I’ll represent my best interests. If it is in my best interest to tell the thugs to stop thugging I will. If it isn’t. I won’t. We don’t know yet which is which, which is why I haven’t said anything yet. Unless of course, Ivanka tells me to say something.
Duck: You might be the first person to become President, where living at the White House will be a step down for you. Don’t you just wish you could be President but let Mike Pence live in the White House and run the country?
Donald Trump: You and I both know that Mike Pence is going to be running this country while I make grandiose comments about what a great job I’m doing to make America Great again. You think wagging the dog was fiction, wait until you see the propaganda department I’m going to set up to make sure everyone knows how great a job I’m doing at making America Great again.
Duck: My other animal friends are concerned that all of the safeguards that have been put in place of the past 40 years to protect the environment, endangered species, animals in general, will get dismantled. Can you give us any reason for optimism or advice?
Donald Trump: Fly away, fly away
Dodgers reacquire Darnell Sweeney
Once again the Dodger front office has engaged the Phillies in an effort to move an infielder. This time the Dodgers moved Howie Kendrick to the Phillies for Darin Ruf and Darnell Sweeney.
Howie Kendrick had expressed dissatisfaction with his role in 2016 and it didn’t look like the Dodgers were considering him for the full-time 2nd baseman role in 2017. The trade nets them a right handed 1st/OF who until 2016 had killed left-hand pitching, something the Dodgers sorely needed. Ruf has a career OPS of .921 against left-hand pitching.
On the surface, Darin Ruf appears to be much like SVS but without the friendly defensive metrics that Scott Van Slyke has. Is this the end of SVS? Looks like it to me with Ruf and Trayce Thompson on the team.
The Dodgers have made quite a few trades with the Phillies over the past few years. None of them major. No ring bearers will be coming to the Dodgers this time. In the past, the ring bearers included Ruiz, Chase, Rollins, Victorino, and Blanton.
Seven trades since 2012 between the Dodgers and Phillies.
Per Baseball Reference Transaction Page:
August 25, 2016 (Standings)
Traded a player to be named later, Tommy Bergjans (minors) and A.J. Ellis to the Philadelphia Phillies. Received Carlos Ruiz and cash. The Los Angeles Dodgers sent Joey Curletta (minors) (September 15, 2016) to the Philadelphia Phillies to complete the trade.
August 19, 2015 (Standings)
Traded John Richy (minors) and Darnell Sweeney to the Philadelphia Phillies. Received Chase Utley and cash.
December 19, 2014
Traded Zach Eflin (minors) and Tom Windle (minors) to the Philadelphia Phillies. Received Jimmy Rollins and cash.
August 7, 2014 (Standings)
Traded players to be named later to the Philadelphia Phillies. Received Roberto Hernandez. The Los Angeles Dodgers sent Victor Arano (minors) (August 28, 2014) and Jesmuel Valentin (minors) (August 16, 2014) to the Philadelphia Phillies to complete the trade.
August 31, 2013 (Standings)
Traded Rob Rasmussen to the Philadelphia Phillies. Received Michael Young and cash.
July 31, 2012 (Standings)
Traded a player to be named later, Josh Lindblom and Ethan Martin to the Philadelphia Phillies. Received Shane Victorino. The Los Angeles Dodgerssent Stefan Jarrin (minors) (September 28, 2012) to the Philadelphia Phillies to complete the trade.
August 3, 2012 (Standings)
Traded a player to be named later to the Philadelphia Phillies. Received Joe Blanton. The Los Angeles Dodgers sent Ryan O’Sullivan (minors) (August 16, 2012) to the Philadelphia Phillies to complete the trade
Roy Gleason a Career lost in the sun
His is not a name most Dodgers fans can identify when discussing the Dodger heroes of the 60’s but make no mistake Roy Gleason was every bit the hero that Sandy Koufax, Don Drysdale, Maury Wills, Tommy Davis, Frank Howard, Jim Gilliam, Claude Osteen, Johnny Podres, and Lou Johnson were. Except Roy Gleason did his best work for his country, not for the Dodgers.
In 2003, Bill Plaschke wrote about Roy Gleason for the LA Times. ESPN followed that up with this story:
Records indicate, Plaschke wrote in the Times, that Gleason was the only major league player to fight in Vietnam, and the only member of the Dodgers organization to earn a Purple Heart in Vietnam. During his eight-month Vietnam tour, Gleason also earned his sergeant stripes and, once, was named soldier of the month. Then on July 24, 1968, after a shell exploded that left gaping wounds in his left calf and left wrist, Roy Gleason earned his ticket home.
An Army chopper airlifted his broken body out of the jungle, leaving behind Gleason’s foot locker and one essential piece of his dream — that 1963 championship ring.
We often talk about our sport heroes in combat terms. He’s a warrior, the game is a battlefield. It is all nonsense. Roy Gleason was a real warrior who fought real battles, he has the scars, physical and mental that accompany many who served.
It was not until 2003 that his story became prominent, but thanks to Plaschke, Gleason’s story became front page material. If you Google his name now, you will see that every Memorial Day or Veterans Day someone is writing a story about him. Why not? It is a great story.
So just in case you hadn’t heard of Roy Gleason, I thought today would be a good day to introduce you to him. I’d suggest clicking on some of the links I’ve provided. He lost his career for his country, we could all stand to lose a few minutes of our time to read about his story.
MLB Network does a video tribute:
Los Angeles Times, Sept. 19, 2003: “At Ease, at Last”. It is Plaschke at his best, he always does his best when he has a real story to work with:
Then, slowly, amazingly, walking from the clubhouse to the upper press dining room, Gleason realized something about this team he had tried to forget.
They had never forgotten him.
Tom Lasorda spotted him in a hallway and reminded him of his big signing bonus. Bruce Froemming, an umpire, recognized him immediately and remembered a minor league rhubarb. Aging scouts stood up from their dinners to pat his back and tell him stories.
Their visit eventually ended up in the tunnel behind the Dugout Club, next to a wall bearing most of the names from the Dodgers’ all-time roster.
Gleason scanned the montage and said, “I’m sure I’m not up here.”
Langill stood behind him thinking, “Please be up there. Please be up there.”
After a few minutes, they found it, above Roy Campanella, below Delino DeShields.
Roy Gleason
“I didn’t really feel like I played enough to warrant being called a major leaguer,” he said.
He touched the wall gently, with a finger that has been numb since he took shrapnel in Vietnam. His eyes glazed. The truth hit.
Once a Dodger, always a Dodger, even if only momentarily a Dodger.
He had never left second base after all.
Sgt. Gleason looked at Langill and shook his head.
“I’m glad I’m on this wall, instead of the other wall,” he said.
Amen, brother.
Best team in the NBA – Your Los Angeles Clippers
Most of the preseason hoopla focused on Durant and the Warriors or LeBron and the Cavaliers with everyone else just playing out the season.
Yet, the team with the best record at 7 – 1 is the Los Angeles Clippers. They aren’t doing it the easy way either.
Game by Game:
Opening night in Portland – they beat the team who knocked them out of the postseason 114 – 106. Lillard goes for 29, but he’s more than matched by 27 from both Griffin and Paul. Newly acquired Marreese Speights chips in 15 off the bench. The second unit was the story of the game manhandling the second unit of the Trailblazers.
Clipper home opener they beat Utah 88 – 75. Austin Rivers leads off scorers with 19 points off the bench in 28 minutes of play. Utah shoots 39%.
Clippers go 3 – 0 by beating the Suns at Staples 116 – 98. JJ Reddick still searching for his three point shot. Chris Paul leads all scorers with 24, Jordan puts in 19 by going 8 for 10 from the field. Dunks galore.
Battle of unbeaten teams, the Thunder hand the Clippers their only loss of 2016/2017 in a close 85 – 83 game. Westbrook doing his best MVP imitation puts in 35, no other Thunder scored in double digits. Giffin and JJ can’t find the hoop. Griffin goes 7 for 21, and JJ 3 for 12. The Clippers second unit kept them in the game but the starters couldn’t close the deal.
Clippers go on the road and beat their rivals the Grizzlies 99 – 88. A 53 – 35 lead let the Clippers coast to this one. It was all about defense as Memphis shot 37 percent. Chris Paul led the Clippers scoring with 27 but was 1 for 8 from three-point land. Mike Conley put in 30 going 7 for 11 from 3 point land for the Grizzlies.
Now it gets fun
Clippers move to 5 – 1 by beating the Spurs in San Antonio 116 – 92. The game wasn’t even a contest with the Clippers leading 73 – 55 at half time. Yup, the Clippers scored 73 first half points which resulted in no starter playing even 30 minutes. Griffin put in 28 points in 29 minutes on 13 of 19 shooting. At one time I think he was 10 of 12. Marreese Speights showed up again scoring 15 in 18 minutes. More importantly, JJ Reddick’s 3 point shot showed up as he went 2 of 3 from distance.
Clippers come home after a 2- 0 road trip and improve to 6 – 1 by decimating the Detroit Pistons 114 – 82. The Clippers had a 30 point lead at half time 62 – 32 and once again no starter played more than 30 minutes. The Clipper starting backcourt went 8 for 9 from three-point range with Paul being perfect at 5 for 5.
In their second matchup with the Blazers, the Clippers literally run them off the court to go 7 – 1 and give them the best record in the NBA. At one point the Clippers had a 50 point lead and a 93 – 50 lead at the end of the 3rd quarter. For the 3rd game in a row, no Clipper starter played more than 30 minutes. The best scoring duo in the league coming into the game was Lillard and CJ McCollum and they went a combined 5 for 21.
Over the past five games, only one team has managed to score over 90 points. The Clippers starting five is the best defensive unit in the NBA. The Clippers second unit is the second best defensive unit in the NBA. According to the Clipper announcers anyway.
Watching them right now is like watching Magic Showtime. I know it won’t last but wow, they are something else right now.
2016 MLB Players Choice Awards
2016 Players Choice Awards Finalists and Winners (In Bold):
American League:
Outstanding Player: Jose Altuve (Houston Astros); Mookie Betts (Boston Red Sox); Mike Trout (LA Angels)
Outstanding Pitcher: Zach Britton (Baltimore Orioles); Corey Kluber (Cleveland Indians); Rick Porcello (Boston Red Sox)
Outstanding Rookie: Michael Fulmer (Detroit Tigers); Tyler Naquin (Cleveland Indians); Gary Sanchez (NY Yankees)
Comeback Player: Yu Darvish (Texas Rangers); Ian Desmond (Texas Rangers); Mark Trumbo (Baltimore Orioles)
National League:
Outstanding Player: Nolan Arenado (Colorado Rockies); Kris Bryant (Chicago Cubs); Daniel Murphy (Washington Nationals)
Outstanding Pitcher: Kyle Hendricks (Chicago Cubs); Clayton Kershaw (Los Angeles Dodgers); Max Scherzer (Washington Nationals)
Outstanding Rookie: Aledmys Diaz (St. Louis Cardinals); Corey Seager (Los Angeles Dodgers); Trea Turner (Washington Nationals)
Comeback Player: Jose Fernandez (Miami Marlins); Rich Hill (Los Angeles Dodgers); Jean Segura (Arizona Diamondbacks)
Either League:
Player of Year: Jose Altuve (Houston Astros); Mookie Betts (Boston Red Sox); David Ortiz (Boston Red Sox)
Man of the Year: Curtis Granderson (NY Mets); Anthony Rizzo (Chicago Cubs); Justin Turner (Los Angeles Dodgers)
For more information on the Players Choice Awards, please click here:
http://playerstrust.org/programs/players-choice-awards/
For the complete list of previous winners, please click here:
Resurgent Matt Kemp
I haven’t written about my old buddy in a while and with good reason. Earlier this season Matt was having one of those weird seasons that made stat folk look up to see who else had done this.
and not in a good way
In Matt Kemp’s first 64 games of 2016 he had managed to acquire only 4 walks in 270 plate appearances. His batting average was .253, his OBP was just a tad better at .259. Matt was selling out patience for power but no one wanted Tony Bautista. Kemp was on a pace to walk fewer than 20 times for the complete season. The last player to walk less than 20 times and hit over 30 home runs was Andres Gallaraga in 1994. Until Odor did it this year for the Rangers.
Luckily he was traded to the Braves and rediscovered his patience walking 20 times in his last 240 plate appearances to post a respectable .336 OBP with the Braves. His wRC+ at 134 was the 3rd best for a LF in the NL in the 2nd half. Just 3 points behind Ryan Braun who Dustin Nosler wants to trade 1/5 the team for.
To MIL: Jose De Leon, Scott Kazmir (+$8.3 million in 2017, $7M in 2018), Howie Kendrick, Yasiel Puig, Alex Verdugo
To LA: Ryan Braun
Kemp isn’t Ryan Braun, but the only thing against Kemp was his initial refusal to play LF in 2014 when for some reason he thought he was still a center fielder. Unlike Braun he doesn’t have the stigma of PED use, and throwing people under the bus to protect himself who were just doing their jobs .
Isn’t it curious that Fangraphs defensive stats for LF in the NL can’t find any good defensive left fielders except Kris Bryant?
As my friend Bobby Down tells us over and over, Matt Kemp is awesome except in May.
The numbers bear this out:
| Year | | | BA/OBP/Slug |
| May 2014 | | | .266 / .293 / .362 |
| May 2015 | | | .186 / .225 / .212 |
| May 2016 | | | .186 / .189 / .373 |
| Career May | | | .249 / .303 / .378 |
| Career | | | .286 / .340 / .490 |
Once Matt Kemp got out of May he would have an excellent offensive season with one little burp in August.
Since Matt Kemp became a full-time player in 2008 this is how he stacks up on the HR outfielder leaderboard:
| Player | HR | PA | OBP | SLG | OPS |
| Jose Bautista | 277 | 4949 | 0.378 | 0.519 | 0.896 |
| Nelson Cruz | 269 | 4704 | 0.343 | 0.529 | 0.873 |
| Ryan Braun | 251 | 5327 | 0.366 | 0.535 | 0.902 |
| Curtis Granderson | 243 | 5456 | 0.34 | 0.468 | 0.808 |
| Jay Bruce | 241 | 5189 | 0.318 | 0.467 | 0.785 |
| Matt Kemp | 223 | 5339 | 0.34 | 0.489 | 0.829 |
| Adam Jones | 222 | 5593 | 0.319 | 0.462 | 0.781 |
| Justin Upton | 219 | 5408 | 0.349 | 0.476 | 0.824 |
| Giancarlo Stanton | 208 | 3428 | 0.357 | 0.539 | 0.896 |
| Carlos Gonzalez | 201 | 4347 | 0.347 | 0.521 | 0.868 |
Once again, Matt Kemp and Jay Bruce are joined at the hip. Even being traded this season at the trading deadline.
Kenley Jansen
was a bit of a baseball fairy tale story. A light switch-hitting minor league catcher with a gun for an arm who first gained notoriety when he played in the 2009 World Cup for the Dutch and was seen throwing out baserunners from his knees. The Dodgers converted him to a pitcher that summer and ……….
One year later he was pitching in the major leagues, and seven years later holds the Dodger franchise record for saves with 189, a number that might not increase.
The Dodgers made Jansen the qualifying offer today of $17.2 million. Jansen has until 14:00 PT next Monday to say yes or no. He’ll certainly say no as he’s expected to be one of the top free agents of this year’s class. Unless the Dodgers sign him, the Dodgers will receive a sandwich pick between the 1st and 2nd round of the 2017 draft. Unlike other players who have had trouble getting signed after being offered the QO, that will be no problem for Jansen as he should have multiple suitors. One of them could be the SF Giants.
Should the Dodgers sign Jansen? Common sense says yes, but the Dodgers will employ sophisticated statistical analysis to make this decision. There is a reason they have 20 numerical analysts on staff and this is one of the big reasons. I’ve seen a number of 5/85 for Kenley Jansen.
How the Dodger front office handles this decision will have a domino effect on the rest of the winter.
If Jansen is signed how much will that impact the Dodger ability to fill the other holes on the team?
If Jansen signs elsewhere how do the Dodgers go about using their considerable in-house assets to find an alternative.
One thing to keep in mind, as dominant as Kenley Jansen has been, the reality is that you don’t need to be the best relief pitcher in baseball to be a lock down closer. KJ has an 88.40 % success rate in saves. You could say that Shawn Tolleson was worst closer over the past three years and his success rate was 88.50%
A team as smart as the Dodgers should be able to find a cost affordable option that allows them to use their resources elsewhere.
When fans lament who will close if Jansen leaves, they fail to take into account that almost all closers come out of nowhere. I can break down every closer in baseball and show you that for 80% of them, no one saw that 40 save season coming.
But for brevity, let’s just take a look at the 21st century Los Angeles Dodger closer history.
In 2001 Jeff Shaw was finishing his run as the Dodger closer. It was a high price the Dodgers paid to get Jeff Shaw when they traded Paul Konerko and Dennis Reyes. Shaw retired and the Dodgers went into 2002 without a closer. As late as August 31st, 2001 Eric Gagne was still starting for the Dodgers. By April 7th he was the closer, but don’t let anyone tell you that in October of 2001 they felt Eric Gagne was going to be the Dodger closer in 2002.
Gagne would close from 2002 – 2004 but like most closers, his run was spectacular but brief. From May until June Gagne was the closer in 2005 but that was it. Who would step up while Gagne was hurt? Ghame Over Yhency Brazoban took the reigns and put up 21 saves. Honestly, Brazoban wasn’t very good and the Dodgers were searching for a closer headed into the 2006 season.
Ned Colletti traded assets for Danys Baez to be the closer. Baez had collected 96 saves the prior three years and seemed a safe bet to be the Dodger closer in 2006. Baseball had a different opinion and while Baez collected nine saves, he wasn’t very good. Out of nowhere, a thirty something relief pitcher from Japan stepped into the void and shockingly became an excellent closer. Not only 2006 but for all of 2007 and parts of 2008.
Closer in waiting, Jonathan Broxton, took the reigns in 2008 and held that role several years. I will say with Broxton and eventually Jansen the Dodgers had an in-house option that most everyone felt was destined to be a closer. Broxton met those expectations during the regular season and picked up 84 saves from 2008 – 2012. Kuo picked up a few saves in 2010, and guess who else? Kenley Jansen. Eventually, we all knew Kenley Jansen would become the closer and here we are. Yes, I skipped by the Javy Guerra era.
The Dodgers like the 2002 and 2006 teams don’t appear to have a viable in-house option to replace Jansen but it will probably end up being someone that no one expected on Nov 7th, 2016.
No one likes Pedro Baez for many reasons but it would not shock me if Baez can grow into a role of closer. He has the stuff, he just needs to take that step. I wouldn’t bet on Baez to make that step, but it would not shock me if he did just as everyone was giving up on him.
Alex Wood could be that guy.
Jose De Leon could be that guy.
Josh Ravin could be that guy.
Yes, n0ne of them are likely but neither was Gagne or Saito.
A large part of me wants to see Kenley Jansen return, an equally large part of me wants to see how the LAD front office goes about replacing him.
Corey Seager is a MVP finalist
It was already a given that Corey Seager would win the NL ROY award so it was no surprise when MLB announced their top three candidates for the MVP, ROY, CYA, and Manager of the Year finalists that Seager was one of the three for the NL ROY.
NL Jackie Robinson Rookie of the Year: Kenta Maeda, Corey Seager, Trea Turner
It was a mild surprise, however, to see Seager as one of the top three for the NL MVP.
NL Most Valuable Player: Kris Bryant, Daniel Murphy, Corey Seager
I’m sure that Kris Bryant will win the award and he deserves it, but to be in the top three in the MVP vote in your rookie season is excellent.
The rest of the announcements:
Monday, November 14, 6:00 p.m. ET:
AL Jackie Robinson Rookie of the Year: Michael Fulmer, Tyler Naquin, Gary Sanchez
NL Jackie Robinson Rookie of the Year: Kenta Maeda, Corey Seager, Trea Turner
Tuesday, November 15, 6:00 p.m. ET:
AL Manager of the Year: Jeff Banister, Terry Francona, Buck Showalter
NL Manager of the Year: Dusty Baker, Joe Maddon, Dave Roberts
Wednesday, November 16, 6:00 p.m. ET:
AL Cy Young Award: Corey Kluber, Rick Porcello, Justin Verlander
NL Cy Young Award: Kyle Hendricks, Jon Lester, Max Scherzer
Thursday, November 17, 6:00 p.m. ET:
AL Most Valuable Player: Jose Altuve, Mookie Betts, Mike Trout
NL Most Valuable Player: Kris Bryant, Daniel Murphy, Corey Seager
Willie Calhoun gives notice
This past Saturday, Willie Calhoun won the AFL All-Star MVP by going 3 for 3 with a prodigious home run to right field. Calhoun is the lowest ranked of the big three but he might have the best bat. Willie was preseason ranked as the 18th best LAD prospect. He is now 4th, making the biggest jump of the top preseason ranked 30. Willie got there by hitting the most home runs as a 21-year-old in AA ball this summer.
Unfortunately for Willie, winning the AFL MVP award isn’t a very good indicator of future success. Since 2002 the only winners who have gone on to have MLB success have been Kris Bryant, Nolan Arenado, and Dustin Ackley. Other than Ackley, you either win big or fail big.
Willie Calhoun (@Dodgers) wins the 2016 @BowmanCards MVP Award pic.twitter.com/tkFXi9gI5j
— Arizona Fall League (@MLBazFallLeague) November 6, 2016
I drove out to the desert the week before to take in a Glendale Desert Dog game at the Talking Stick Stadium. I had wanted to get a first-hand look at Willie Calhoun, Cody Bellinger, and Alex Verdugo. Particularly Calhoun and Verdugo. Seeing a player up close just adds a dimension you can’t get from watching video highlights. I had already seen Bellinger several times in the spring of 2016.
Calhoun was taking infield when I arrived and right away I noticed he was much squatter than the video showed. He is very big in the butt and thighs, and not anything like a prototypical 2nd baseman. He handled all the infield work just fine but I kept wondering to myself who he reminded me of.
Cody Bellinger looked as smooth at 1st as he had last spring when I last saw him. His demeanor seemed different. In the spring he was a just another kid getting some playing time with the big league club, but now he gave off a very confident air.
Verdugo couldn’t be found but when the team left the field after pregame fielding practice I noticed a Dodger coming in from CF with a very attractive lady. Sure enough, it was Verdugo and he was being set up in front of the dugout for a fairly intensive interview. The interview lasted about ten minutes.
To my dismay the only the Dodger starting was Tim Locastro and nothing against Tim, he wasn’t the one I came to see. As the game progressed the Dodgers who weren’t starting took turns coaching 1st base. I got a long look at Calhoun when it finally struck me who he reminded me of. Good ole roly polly Dodger September legend Ronny Belliard.
Physically the comp fits. They were both 2nd baseman, short of stature, lots of weight below the belt. Belliard would carve out a nice career, but Willie has power that Belliard never had. Or you could go all the way back to the Toy Cannon, Jimmy Wynn. Most people don’t know that Wynn was an infielder before he became a center fielder.
What I didn’t know was that Jimmy Wynn entered the major leagues as a shortstop. In July/1963 he started at shortstop for his 1st 13 games before being moved to CF. He played 8 more games at SS in 63 but all of them late in the game double switches. So after starting at SS for the 1st 13 games of his career, the Toy Cannon would never start another game at SS.
Wynn had speed that Willie does not have, but maybe they have the same power pocket?
I feel confident that Calhoun will be a better than average hitter at the major league level, the only real question is what position will he fill. The Dodgers will give us an idea of what they think of his future by what they do this winter.
They have several options:
- Resign Chase Utley and go with Chase/Howie with Kiké Hernandez backing them up.
- Don’t resign Chase and go with Howie as the main starting 2nd baseman with Kiké Hernandez backing him up
- Sign a free agent 2nd baseman like Todd Walker
- Sign a short term free agent 2nd baseman
- Trade for a 2nd baseman
If they go with Option 1, 2, or 4 it might be signaling they think Willie Calhoun is their future 2nd baseman. If they go that route I’d expect to see Willie a lot in 2017 given he’s just a few injuries to old 2nd baseman from seeing the big club.
If they go with option 3 or 5, that should signal the end of the Willie Calhoun future Dodger 2nd baseman. At that point, he is either moved to another position, (corner OF, 3rd Base), or traded.
Until we see what the Dodger actions are this winter I won’t have any real idea of what the FO thinks of his future. He’s playing 2nd base in the AFL, so one clue for me is that they still want him to be an offensive 2nd baseman. Many seem to think he’s destined for a career as a left fielder.
When you compare what players like Chase/Howie are doing at the major league level right now, Willie’s bat should be able to replicate or better that production in 2017.
Can his bat, make his glove play?
Can the Dodgers wait for the glove while trying to compete in 2017 with Chase/Howie?
Dodgers, Yesterday and Today 