01.10.05
DePedestal scores pitchers
Maybe it’s time to step back a bit and look at what DePodesta hath wrought. Now that Odalis Perez and Derek Lowe have signed, I’m encouraged. I look at the current roster and see a team that could feasibly play in the World Series. Just about everything would have to go right, but it’s not out of the realm of a Dodger fan’s hope. I still worry when I hear rumors like the one on CBS Sportsline that DePodesta is low-balling the hitting coach who might be credited with turning around Dodger bats last year. But overall, because the Dodgers now have Perez and Lowe there are reasons to be encouraged.
One thing to consider is that this is a new management team. You read the stories about what the organization is trying to accomplish and it appears they came in with plans for a major overhaul and they decided to do it quickly. They want guys who are going to be Dodgers for a long time. Some of the contracts they’ve shed were short ones (Shawn Green). I still don’t like last year’s trade, not so much because of LoDuca but Guillermo Mota. I think it might be evidence of a GM trying to do too much. Still, perhaps without that trade they don’t get Steve Finley. But the Dodgers started folding last year while the Giants got hot. The Giants have improved this off-season. Now that L.A. has the two starters, I think the Dodgers can say they have too. I’m curious to see how good Dioner Navarro is. We all know about Kent and Drew. Jose Valentin had 30 homers last year. This could be a hammerin’ offense. Get a lead, give the ball to Gagne and goodnight.
One thing I saw last year that I hadn’t seen in a long time was a Dodger team willing to fight to the last out. Losing Finley and Lima may hurt in terms of team character, but if they win a few early on all that character just might come back.
Here’s what would have to happen for the Dodgers to contend.
1. The same thing that’s true every year, players stay healthy.
2. Lowe pitches well in the regular season. He was great in the post-season last year, but during the regular season he was hot and cold. He lost a few low-scoring games, but benefitted from the Red Sox offense in a couple of hit fests. Let’s also not forget that the Dodgers paid gazillions for Kevin Brown based on a single post-season. Let’s hope this isn’t repeated history.
3. Brad Penny stays healthy.
4. Edwin Jackson turns out to be a solid pitcher.
5. Drew, Valentin and Kent don’t drop in production too much. Kent’s power numbers are sure to take a bit of a drop because of his age and the ballpark (I could hit a homer in Houston). Valentin shouldn’t fare that much differently. He had 24 homers in 2002 and 25 in 2003. He’s 35 years old. For Drew it’s all about staying healthy.
6. Jayson Werth, Cesar Izturis stay solid.
7. Milton Bradley controls his temper.
I’m smart enough to realize that my list isn’t everything.
The following is an accounting of the players DePodesta has dumped, picked up and held. This is from a listing provided at the Dodgers Web site.
Players DePodesta lost or dealt:
Adrian Beltre
Jolbert Cabrera
Alex Cora
Juan Encarnacion
Brian Falkenborg
Steve Finley
Shawn Green
Jose Hernandez
Todd Hundley
Masao Kida
Jose Lima
Paul Lo Duca
Tom Martin
Brent Mayne
Guillermo Mota
Rodney Myers
Hideo Nomo
Dave Roberts
Jason Romano
Paul Shuey
Scott Stewart
Mike Venafro
Robin Ventura
Tom Wilson.
Darren Dreifort is injured and probably would have been released, except he must be placed on the disabled list for the Dodgers to recoup a bulk of his salary through disability insurance.
Players DePodesta acquired still on the roster:
Milton Bradley
Frank Brooks
Giovanni Carrara
Hee-Seop Choi
Elmer Dessens
J.D. Drew
Jason Grabowski
D.J. Houlton
Jeff Kent
Ryan Ketchner
Ricky Ledee
Derek Lowe
Brian Myrow
Dioner Navarro
Brad Penny
Antonio Perez
Cody Ross
Henri Stanley
Jose Valentin
Jayson Werth
Players DePodesta inherited still on the roster:
Wilson Alvarez
Yhency Brazoban
Eric Gagne
Kazuhisa Ishii
Cesar Izturis
Edwin Jackson
Odalis Perez
David Ross
Olmedo Saenz
Duaner Sanchez
Jeff Weaver
Chin-Feng Chen
Joe Thurston
Frederick said,
January 11, 2005 at 12:28 pm
You just picked up Lowe who was in a contract year and still couldn’t do anything until he realized he better get sober for the playoffs. Drew signing is a joke. I would really like to see if the guy can play 162 games since he has a huge contract. The lack of getting Beltre is the biggest joke. I see the Dodgers being the bottom of the West this year. They just don’t have enough bats.
Steven Gardner said,
January 11, 2005 at 3:40 pm
Bottom of the West? No way. I do think the Giants have improved so they might be tough to beat. If the Padres match what they did last year that makes them tough. I don’t see the Diamondbacks or Rockies contending. Surely this Dodger team will be better than at least one of those teams.
As for Lowe, your comment is inaccurate. I was right. He was hot and cold. He was brilliant in some games and sucked in others. Check the game-by-game record.
I agree about Beltre and fear I may end up agreeing about Drew.
What I hope most is the Dodger willingness to let go of a guy like Mike Piazza ends. Gagne better stay a Dodger forever, or at least until he or the team sucks.
Frederick said,
January 12, 2005 at 4:25 pm
I was wrong. The Rockies will definitely be the worst in the west. I just think it’s odd how the Sox never even thought about bringing Lowe back. It can’t be a good sign. However he does have a great sinker and the lack of a DH may really help him. He really just received a ton of run support last year and the year before.