Thursday, April 13, 2006
Dodgers - My fantasy world
The Dodgers have the following problems:
1) Ailing pitching staff
2) Six outfielders
3) Only one closer
Now (3) isn't really a problem, except they're supposed to have 3 closers - Brazoban, Baez, and Gagne. Yhency will undergo Tommy John surgery.
The Dodgers have another experienced closer on the staff, a 40-save closer at that. His name is Derek Lowe. He's had a bit of a rough start. He's also Grady Little's favorite. If Grady can convince him that he belongs with the rank of Gagne and Baez, Lowe would be a candidate to move to the bullpen. Or, if being Grady's favorite, he stays in the rotation, Jae Seo may be converted to a long reliever. So that sort of helps #3, but what for 1 and 2?
The Florida Marlins are reportedly looking to ship out Dontrelle Willis, because they are cheap. One theory is that they are saving up to buy their own brand new stadium. The other is that they are angry that they play in Dolphins' Stadium instead of Pro Player Stadium, even though they're good and they've actually won a championship in the last 3 years while the Dolphins suck. The Dodgers have a player that yesterday showed that he can hit for power in a clutch situation. Cody Ross hit 2 home runs, one grand slam and one 3-run shot.
Would the Marlins be stupid enough to trade D-Train for Cody Ross? Possibly. They might demand some other prospect, which the Dodgers may or may not supply. Andre Ethier? While it would be a drag to lose another great outfield prospect, that would be awesome if they had Dontrelle Willis to show for Milton Bradley. The Dodgers are not about to trade Chad Billingsley if the Marlins want another pitcher. Or I could dream and think they'll want a left-handed ex-Yankee and take Ross and Ledee. Then, oh darn, they have to call up Joel Guzman, who currently has slightly more experience in the outfield than Alfonso Soriano. Sure the Marlins owner said that they're not shopping Willis, but would you really believe that from someone who knocked their payroll down to $15 million and could cut down another $4 million? We have three first round draft picks; would he like one (but not the #7 overall pick, we deserve that after suffering through last season)?
Realistically, we can only hope the Dodgers will do something good and smart. But speaking from experience, or at least cynicism - which Catbert says is just as good as experience, they'll probably keep Ross, go with 6 outfielders, and hope that Takashi Saito continues to be good and becomes Baez's setup man.
1) Ailing pitching staff
2) Six outfielders
3) Only one closer
Now (3) isn't really a problem, except they're supposed to have 3 closers - Brazoban, Baez, and Gagne. Yhency will undergo Tommy John surgery.
The Dodgers have another experienced closer on the staff, a 40-save closer at that. His name is Derek Lowe. He's had a bit of a rough start. He's also Grady Little's favorite. If Grady can convince him that he belongs with the rank of Gagne and Baez, Lowe would be a candidate to move to the bullpen. Or, if being Grady's favorite, he stays in the rotation, Jae Seo may be converted to a long reliever. So that sort of helps #3, but what for 1 and 2?
The Florida Marlins are reportedly looking to ship out Dontrelle Willis, because they are cheap. One theory is that they are saving up to buy their own brand new stadium. The other is that they are angry that they play in Dolphins' Stadium instead of Pro Player Stadium, even though they're good and they've actually won a championship in the last 3 years while the Dolphins suck. The Dodgers have a player that yesterday showed that he can hit for power in a clutch situation. Cody Ross hit 2 home runs, one grand slam and one 3-run shot.
Would the Marlins be stupid enough to trade D-Train for Cody Ross? Possibly. They might demand some other prospect, which the Dodgers may or may not supply. Andre Ethier? While it would be a drag to lose another great outfield prospect, that would be awesome if they had Dontrelle Willis to show for Milton Bradley. The Dodgers are not about to trade Chad Billingsley if the Marlins want another pitcher. Or I could dream and think they'll want a left-handed ex-Yankee and take Ross and Ledee. Then, oh darn, they have to call up Joel Guzman, who currently has slightly more experience in the outfield than Alfonso Soriano. Sure the Marlins owner said that they're not shopping Willis, but would you really believe that from someone who knocked their payroll down to $15 million and could cut down another $4 million? We have three first round draft picks; would he like one (but not the #7 overall pick, we deserve that after suffering through last season)?
Realistically, we can only hope the Dodgers will do something good and smart. But speaking from experience, or at least cynicism - which Catbert says is just as good as experience, they'll probably keep Ross, go with 6 outfielders, and hope that Takashi Saito continues to be good and becomes Baez's setup man.
Labels: Dodgers
# posted by StolenMonkey86 @ 2:05 AM 
