Jerry Sands got sent down to the minors yesterday which really surprised no one with the kind of numbers he has posted this spring. It is the best move for him and for the Dodgers right now because he really needs some steady at bats. Getting spot duty and at bats off the bench at the major league level may hinder his development right now.
I am really rooting for Jerry Sands. He came out of Catawba College which is only a little over an hour away from me so I guess you could call him a local product. He came up with a lot of hype last year but only produced two homeruns in a May call up. He was sent back down in June but he really tore it up in a September audition and gave the Dodgers and their fans up for the power hitters future.
When I see what Jerry Sands has done so far in the minors and his brief career in the pros, it reminds me of Billy Ashley. He was the wunderkind of the 1990's for the Dodgers but in his brief career with the Dodgers he only posted 25 homeruns, 77 Runs Batted In, and a .233 Batting Average spread out over 6 seasons. He finished his career with the Boston Red Sox. He was just never able to translate his minor league power to the major league level.
Here's hoping that Jerry Sands can figure it out in Albuquerque and gets a legitimate chance in Los Angeles sometime this season.
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
Sunday, March 25, 2012
The Dodgers Preview On The MLB Network
I just had a chance to watch the MLB Network's preview of the 2012 Los Angeles Dodgers. The Baseball Prospectus and the MLB Network predicted the Dodgers would just be average this year. The Baseball Prospectus predicted a 78-84 finish and in last place in the National League West. Mitch Williams and Larry Bowa predicted a few games over .500 finish and 3rd place in the National League West.
A lot of variables go into a major league season with injuries probably being the number one variable. The Cincinnati Reds have already lost newly signed closer Ryan Madson for the season due to an elbow injury. No one can predict how San Francisco Giants Catcher Buster Posey will bounce back from his leg injury.
The Dodgers have come out of Spring Training relatively injury free with the exception of Blake Hawksworth and Matt Guerrier and the normal pulls and tweaks. The position players are all coming out relatively intact and that is a good sign.
The Dodgers 25 man roster was virtually set going into camp with the exception of a reserve outfield and infield position and a couple of bullpen spots. They have Matt Kemp and Clayton Kershaw leading the charge and I believe they can win the National League West. They will have to win with what they have coming out of Spring Training. There is not much available from the minors so any major injuries and the season could go down the tubes quickly.
This is year number two of Don Mattingly's reign as Dodgers skipper and they finished strong last year and it would be great to start out fast and get to the All-Star break within about 5 games of first place.
A lot of variables go into a major league season with injuries probably being the number one variable. The Cincinnati Reds have already lost newly signed closer Ryan Madson for the season due to an elbow injury. No one can predict how San Francisco Giants Catcher Buster Posey will bounce back from his leg injury.
The Dodgers have come out of Spring Training relatively injury free with the exception of Blake Hawksworth and Matt Guerrier and the normal pulls and tweaks. The position players are all coming out relatively intact and that is a good sign.
The Dodgers 25 man roster was virtually set going into camp with the exception of a reserve outfield and infield position and a couple of bullpen spots. They have Matt Kemp and Clayton Kershaw leading the charge and I believe they can win the National League West. They will have to win with what they have coming out of Spring Training. There is not much available from the minors so any major injuries and the season could go down the tubes quickly.
This is year number two of Don Mattingly's reign as Dodgers skipper and they finished strong last year and it would be great to start out fast and get to the All-Star break within about 5 games of first place.
Sunday, March 11, 2012
Fields And Sullivan
Two Non-Roster Invitees making a good impression thus far in Spring Training are Josh Fields and Corey Sullivan. Fields is a natural Third Baseman, being drafted and coming up thru the Chicago White Sox organization and Sullivan is an Outfielder that came up thru the Colorado Rockies organization.
Both are long shots to make the team but both have displayed the versatility to play multiple positions. Fields has logged some innings at First Base as a possible backup/platoon for James Loney and Sullivan has played all three outfield positions.
I like Fields as the alternative to Adam Kennedy as the backup at the corners bcause he is younger and has more pop in his bat. Kennedy is a left-handed bat coming off the bench and he can also play the middle infield positions if the need arises.
Unless Jerry Sands falls completely on his face, the outfield rotation is set with Juan Rivera, Matt Kemp, Andre Ethier, Tony Gwynn Jr., and Jerry Sands. Sullivan is a left-handed bat but he is fighting an uphill battle and the recently added Matt Angle also adds some depth.
Both are long shots to make the team but both have displayed the versatility to play multiple positions. Fields has logged some innings at First Base as a possible backup/platoon for James Loney and Sullivan has played all three outfield positions.
I like Fields as the alternative to Adam Kennedy as the backup at the corners bcause he is younger and has more pop in his bat. Kennedy is a left-handed bat coming off the bench and he can also play the middle infield positions if the need arises.
Unless Jerry Sands falls completely on his face, the outfield rotation is set with Juan Rivera, Matt Kemp, Andre Ethier, Tony Gwynn Jr., and Jerry Sands. Sullivan is a left-handed bat but he is fighting an uphill battle and the recently added Matt Angle also adds some depth.
Monday, March 5, 2012
The First Spring Training Game
Baseball is officially back today. In my mind, it really doesn't become official until they start playing Spring Training games. They can play all of the intrasquad scrimmages they want to, work on pickoff plays, and all of the baserunning drills they want to, but it doesn't become official until they throw the first pitch.
I have to agree with Philbeck of the Los Angeles Times. I am paraphrasing but this might be the most boring Spring Training in Los Angeles Dodgers history. Barring injuries, the roster is pretty well set and there probably won't be any major changes. There are no rookie phenoms set to take the Dodgers by storm and there are no has beens bidding to have one more outstanding summer in the sun.
I think the Dodgers need more infield depth, especially at the corners. I am not sold on Juan Uribe being the everday Third Baseman, so it was interesting to see that non-roster invitee and natural Third Baseman Josh Fields got his playing time today at First Base, behind James Loney. He might make the team backing up the corners based on his versatility but there are several players on the team that can play multiple positions.
Outfielder Scott Van Slyke hit a mammoth Homerun today but I don't care how much he hits, I would have to believe he is ticketed for AAA Albuquerque. I also believe he is a little old to be considered a prospect anymore, especially with all of the time he has spent in the lower minors. If he can hit at all, I am sure the Dodgers could use him at some point and time during the season.
Starter Chad Billingsley had a solid two innings today but Nathan Eovaldi was a little shaky in his two innings of work, issuing a couple of walks. I also don't see him making the Dodgers when they break camp and he will probably end up back in AA Chattanooga.
I have to agree with Philbeck of the Los Angeles Times. I am paraphrasing but this might be the most boring Spring Training in Los Angeles Dodgers history. Barring injuries, the roster is pretty well set and there probably won't be any major changes. There are no rookie phenoms set to take the Dodgers by storm and there are no has beens bidding to have one more outstanding summer in the sun.
I think the Dodgers need more infield depth, especially at the corners. I am not sold on Juan Uribe being the everday Third Baseman, so it was interesting to see that non-roster invitee and natural Third Baseman Josh Fields got his playing time today at First Base, behind James Loney. He might make the team backing up the corners based on his versatility but there are several players on the team that can play multiple positions.
Outfielder Scott Van Slyke hit a mammoth Homerun today but I don't care how much he hits, I would have to believe he is ticketed for AAA Albuquerque. I also believe he is a little old to be considered a prospect anymore, especially with all of the time he has spent in the lower minors. If he can hit at all, I am sure the Dodgers could use him at some point and time during the season.
Starter Chad Billingsley had a solid two innings today but Nathan Eovaldi was a little shaky in his two innings of work, issuing a couple of walks. I also don't see him making the Dodgers when they break camp and he will probably end up back in AA Chattanooga.
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