The Dodgers were able to salvage one game out of the three on Wednesday during the series finale of the three game NLDS rematch showdown against the Nationals thanks to Clayton Kershaw, Corey Seager, a passed ball from Washington catcher Jose Lobaton and some timely hitting from Yasmani Grandal.
Now the Cincinnati Reds will come into town for a weekend series. The Dodgers enter the series with a 36-35 record. They are currently in third place in the NL West 2.5 games behind the Rockies. Meanwhile the Reds are 29-30 and also in third place in the NL Central, two games behind the Brewers.
The Reds come in with a four game winning streak and have split their last ten games. They have a 10-15 record on the road. The Dodgers are 22-10 at Dodger Stadium and have also split their last ten games as well. The Dodgers have a .254/.334/.437 slash line at home with 42 home runs and 165 runs scored. The Dodgers are averaging 5.15 runs per game at home. The Reds are one of the better hitting road clubs in baseball. They are slashing .257/.321/.442 with 37 home runs on the road. The Reds have scored 112 runs away from Great American Ballpark which means they average about 4.48 runs per road contest.
Pitching match-ups
Game 1-
In the opening game the Reds will send 25-year old youngster Ari Garrett to the mound as the Dodgers will counter with left hander Rich Hill. This is Garrett’s first MLB season after he posted a 1.75 ERA in 77 innings pitched at double-A Pensacola. Garrett is more of a fly ball pitcher but his four-seamer has more of a sinking movement. He also throws a slider and change. His four-seamer tops out at about 92 MPH.
This is his tenth start but he’s been pretty horrendous this year. He has a 3-4 record with a 7.17 ERA in 47.2 innings pitched. He’s struck out 36 and walked 22 while allowing 48 hits. He’s roughly giving up about one hit per inning. He’s had major problems with the long ball since according to the numbers he is a fly ball pitcher. He’s served up an eye-popping 15 home runs in his nine starts. Garrett hails from Victorville, California and was drafted by the Reds in the 22 round of the 2011 draft.
Rich Hill has yet to pitch past the fifth inning this season and this is his seventh start of the season. He’s actually been pretty bad as he once again struggles with blisters. In his last outing he lasted just four innings against the Brewers and allowed three runs on three hits and struck out five against four walks. Command has been a big issue for Hill as he has allowed 18 free passes in his 26 innings of work. Overall he has a 2-2 record and a 4.15 ERA. Hill has made seven career starts against the Reds and is 3-2 with a 4.05 ERA. He’s struck out 46 Reds in 40 frames. Most of the current Reds have yet to see Hill. Here are his numbers against the Reds.
Hill vs. Reds
| Name | PA | AB | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | BA | OBP | OPS |
| Bronson Arroyo | 6 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | .200 | .200 | .400 |
| Joey Votto | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | .000 | .000 |
| Total | 8 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | .143 | .143 | .286 |
Game 2
In the second game, Alex Wood is scheduled to return from the disabled list as the Reds will counter with right hander Asher Wojciechowski. I have no idea how to spell or pronounce the 28-year old’s name but this is the first time we’ve seen him. Wojciechowski was originally drafted by the Blue Jays in the first round of the 2010 amateur draft. Wojciechowski was one of the players involved in the swap that sent Francisco Cordero , Ben Francisco, and Carlos Perez to the Astros for David Carpenter, J.A. Happ, and Brandon Lyon back in July of 2012. The Reds signed the South Carolina native in April of 2017.
Before the 2017 season Wojciechowski has made just three major league starts and five career appearances. This season he’s made two starts and appeared in four games. Wojciechowski has posted a 1-0 record and a 4.50 ERA in 14 innings pitched. He’s struck out 12 and walked three but given up 15 hits. He has a career 5.93 ERA in 30.1 MLB innings pitched.
Wojciechowski primarily throws a four-seam fastball, a sweeping slider, and a changeup. Much like Amir Garrett he appears to be more of a fly ball pitcher. His fastball tops out at about 93 MPH. The Dodgers have never faced him before and Wojciechowski has never faced the Dodgers.
Wood is returning from Sc joint inflammation in his left shoulder and looks to continue where he left off after he was named the NL pitcher of the month in May. Wood was dominating in May as he posted a 5-0 record with a 1.27 ERA in 5 starts. He struck out 41 and walked only 7 while holding opponents to a .214 batting average against. He was pretty good in April as well, limiting batters to a .153 average against.
Overall Wood is 6-0 with a 1.69 ERA in 48 innings tossed. He’s struck out 60 and walked 15 while posting a 6.2 hits per nine rate. Wood has struck out 11.3 per nine and posted a 1.89 FIP. He’s allowed just nine earned runs all season. Wood has pitched well against the Reds. In 3 appearances and 2 career starts he’s posted a 2-0 record and a 2.30 ERA. The current group of Reds is hitting just .250 (5 for 20) against Wood. Here’s how the rest of the Reds have done against Wood.
Wood vs. Reds
| Name | PA | AB | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | BA | OBP | OPS |
| Joey Votto | 7 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 2 | .400 | .571 | 1.771 |
| Eugenio Suarez | 6 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | .250 | .500 | .750 |
| Arismendy Alcantara | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | .000 | .333 | .333 |
| Tucker Barnhart | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | .000 | .000 |
| Scooter Gennett | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 | 1.000 | 2.000 |
| Billy Hamilton | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | .000 | .000 |
| Bronson Arroyo | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .000 | .000 | .000 |
| Zack Cozart | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | .000 | .000 |
| Devin Mesoraco | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | .000 | .000 |
| Total | 25 | 20 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 4 | .250 | .400 | .850 |
Game 3
Both clubs have yet to announce a starting pitcher for the series finale on Sunday afternoon.
Injury updates-
The Reds have five pitchers on the disabled list. Homer Bailey slated to return at the end of the month as he recovers from February right elbow surgery. Brandon Finnegan is also scheduled to return this month as well as he battles a teres major strain. Bailey and Finnegan are going to be sent out on a double-A rehab assignment this weekend.
The Dodgers not only will have Wood coming back but also Justin Turner. Center fielder Joc Pederson is due to begin a rehab assignment this weekend too. He’s still showing symptoms of a concussion after his brutal collision with Yasiel Puig in the outfield. He’s been out since May 25. Right hander Brock Stewart has been throwing in Class-A and could be back this month as well.
Scooter Gennett’s four home run game
In case you haven’t heard, Scooter Gennett became just the seventeenth player in MLB history to his four home runs in a game. He slugged his four on Tuesday in the Red’s 13-1 win over the Cardinals. Gennett had five this in the game, going 5 for 5 with 4 HRs and 10 runs batted in. One was a grand slam home run. It was a pretty incredible performance, and I am glad it did not happen against the Dodgers. Check out all four of his dongs.
Former Dodgers
The Reds have two former Dodgers who have been doing quite well. Infielder Jose Peraza is batting .248 with 14 stolen bases and 17 runs batted in. Peraza has 53 hits in 224 plate appearances. Big strong outfielder Scott Schebler is batting .253 and currently leads the National League with 17 home runs. He’s driven in 31 runs and posted an .889 OPS in 54 games.
Players to watch:
Shortstop Zack Cozart is batting .347 this season with a .430 OBP in 196 at-bats. Cozart has 9 home runs and 33 runs batted in.
Joey Votto has a career .335 average against the Dodgers and is batting .298 at Dodger Stadium in 100 career plate appearances. Justin Turner is hitting .275 against the Reds in 31 career games.
This day in Dodger history. June 9th 1982. Vin Scully has his star placed on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Way to go Vinny. Down on the farm, Verdugo and Calhoun homer in 6-1 OKC win. Scott, we can just call that Reds pitcher Alphabet soup……I can’t pronounce it either. I think Ryu sets up to start on Sunday with McCarthy and Kershaw opening the series against the Astros. Since Maeda is in the pen that seems like the plan. Stewart was just activated and sent to AAA. Heston was waived and claimed and Castillo put on the 40 man.
Another spousal abuse allegation pops up. 2nd one in 2 days. This time it is against Addison Russell, the Cubbies SS. Back in the days when I was living in Phoenix, they had 2 athletes who were charged with abuse, one was a D-Backs pitcher, I think his name was Chouinard. The other was the Suns starting point guard. Jason Kidd. It is never right to do that sort of thing. Chouinard was subsequently released and never donned a big league uni again. Kidd continued his NBA career. My own take, anyone accused and investigated should be immediately suspended. One of the big reasons Chapman did not become a Dodger. MLB is too lax against this kind of thing.
I may get my Maeda Ryu same day routine. They each go 4, hand the ball to Kenley for the W.
Remember the Max Gail character on Barney Miller? Wojciehowics. They pronounced it Wojo-ho-wits. Called him Wojo. I’m guessing this guy is Wojo-chow-ski. I’m betting he’s called Wojo by the organization.
Hope Wood is ok. I’m thinking he only goes 5.
Who did we get for Schebler and Peraza? Montas, Micah Johnson (is he still alive?) and Trayce Thompson. I still have some hope for Thompson. Montas is throwing gas but has control problems. He is in Majors. Losing pitcher Wednesday.
Im going with the positive position that even with this incredible plethora of depth, which is the envy of all of baseball, FAZ makes a move, and this time they get it right.
Johnson on the ATL’s disabled list. Thompson has played a little better of late. Has his average up over .190. I think the Reds won that trade. Actually we got Frazier for those guys and turned around Frazier for Johnson, Montas and Thompson, who’s brother is 1 game away from another ring.
Had said at the time that the Dodgers finished 3rd in that 3 team trade.
The Reds had the choice of Schebler/Peraza or Thompson/Montas & Johnson.
Which FO chose correctly?
Does Schebler qualify as acquiring ‘a player before he becomes that player?’
On my player eval sheet, that exists in my head, yes, Schebler IS that player you describe. Now it’s possible he goes Puig after this start, but so far he is that OPS piece that progressive GM’s covet. An odd twist to his start this year, he has an OPS of 1.034 against LHP. Limited number of at bats, 48, but he don’t appear to be sceered of them.
I’ve watched Schebler a few times. He does stay in against lefties. My only issue or concern with him (and this seems to be a characteristic of MANY Dodger prospects) is that he seems to over swing quite often. It’s as if this bunch of prospects were told it’s an all or nothing game. Maybe if he is around Votto long enough he might learn to lessen the swing and focus on good contact on a more consistent basis.
I’d rather they not do anything. They only get the small deals right.
I would agree with you. Taylor for Lee was is a good deal. Lee was traded by the Mariners to the Padres. Liberatore has not been too bad when healthy. Amazingly, they still have 3 players from the Gordon trade, Hernandez, Barnes and Hatcher. Not great, but serviceable. Barnes may end up being the best part of that deal, Hatcher has never really been the guy they thought he would be, and Hernandez, well Kike is versatile, but no star. He is better this year than last, but not as good as 2015. The Atlanta-Miami-LA 3 way deal has left us with 2, Wood and Avilan. The other players we got in that deal were all lousy. I will not hash over the Kemp trade. Montas, Holmes, Cotton, for Hill-Reddick, we were swindled. Forsythe for Deleon has not been a barn burner so far. You add all the borderline dregs that they have gotten off waivers, and their track record is not all that great. Yet I still hear the FAZOPHITES exclaiming what genius’s they are. We will see I guess. Like Badger I sometimes think they are looking post 2018 rather than right now.
Post 2018……meaning post Clayton Kershaw? Hmmm.
If they are dumb enough (which I think they are) to let Kershaw walk (of course they’ll make him an offer to satisfy their brainwash supporters but won’t match what he’ll receive) then that will be end of this travesty. Maybe then ownership will find some grown ups to run the organization. These two (Friedman & Zaidi) couldn’t manage a corner grocery store.
I know they are looking down the road. But they also know they have the best pitcher in baseball currently in his prime years so they have to make an attempt to get him into the playoffs and hope he goes MadBum on the opposition. If it doesn’t work out this year, what do we expect from them in ’18? (That will be Kershaw’s 30 year old campaign, and an opt out year.) I expect them to go for it this year knowing if it ends as it has for 4 straight years, Kershaw is going to have a Greinke like option year and split to Texas. I said that last year and I see no reason to change that position. That’s why I think they make moves. They know what we know – this team is flawed and currently ranks below Chicago and Washington in the NL and Houston, Cleveland, Boston in the AL. Of course those odds in early June are different everywhere you look. 538 currently has Astros favorites, with the Dodgers and Nationals even. The point remains, FAZ will want to improve this team and increase those odds.
And we all know that FAZ improving the Dodgers during the season has been their forte. NOT! I would say they are 0 for 2 so far. I’m predicting another 0fer.
Badger
If Kershaw doesn’t pull a Bumgarner, and put this team on his back and get this team in the World Series, after this year, or in his last year, next year, do they still resign Kershaw, our should they resign Kershaw?
If he was the primary reason for me keeping my $7.5M job then yes, I’m spending someone else’s $40M annually on Clayton Kershaw.
See how easy that is.
BUT if it’s me, Kershaw would not get to FA status. After this season, I’m tearing up the current contract and offering him $40M per for the next 4 years. $30M for the next 3 after that. $20M year 8 and $10M each for years 9 & 10. Guarantee contract. He can retire at the age of 40 a Dodger.
Thats 10 years/$290M.
It would be up to me to get some other quality pitchers to help him….and not expect him to be perfect in the post season.
Well that’s interesting Chili. Just for argument’s sake – 40? You really think this power pitcher is Nolan Ryan-esque? I think we are seeing, maybe have seen, the best of his career. The back issue last year is the crack in his foundation.
I’m on record. I would have gone for it two years ago. Re-upping a 30 year old power pitcher, even one named Clayton Kershaw, makes me nervous.
Badger-
Trust me, I would have done it 2 years ago as well. I’m just reacting to what ‘the small minds in the FO’ let slip away. I do think Kershaw has a chance to pitch well into his late 30’s. His intelligence, savvy and work ethic leads me to believe that. But the 10 year deal is affirmation that he retires a Dodger. He would NOT be traded under any circumstance (well unless he accidentally shot Pelosi. I might have to trade him from the backlash but would high 5 him in private.)
Anyway, whether or not he was still effective in years 9 & 10 (or even able to pitch) I could come up with a dozen of different types of ‘events’ that would cover his $10M ‘token’ salary.
Chili
That is what happens when some look at exit velocity alone.
If there is no consistent contact, or a hitter rolls over more then not, it doesn’t matter what their exit velocity is.
A lot of major leaguers hit a ball hard into a shifts, and those three out come hitters, clog up an offense’s production.
Because walks don’t make up for strike outs, or a bad batting average.
And most of these three out come hitters, don’t hit to many out, against good pitching, or are able to hit at the top of the line up, so most of the HRs, are not game changers.
Badger
Chili and Boxout, just can’t help themselves today, I wonder why?
Chili made his little snipe here, and Boxout, did the same, at the other site.
Maybe they do know that he is just a shyster.
Chili and Badger
I can see both of your points of view.
I kind of lean more toward Badger, because of the way that Kershaw has performed, in the post season.
If you look back in the post season, it seemed like Greinke, and Ryu, pitched better in the post season, then Kershaw did, most of the time.
Kershaw did pitch well in games in the post season, but he has never pitched as dominantly in the post season, as he has, in the regular season.
And Kershaw is making more money then any pitcher in baseball, and because of that, I expect more, from him.
And I expect him to pitch better in the post season, then he has.
I think Badger may be right, that we have already seen the best of Kershaw, and he will soon be thirty, and that is not a good time to give a player or a pitcher, a long multi year contract..
But I also understand Chil’s point too.
Like Chili said, Kershaw is the best pitcher we have, and we don’t have anyone to replace him, so it might be good, to resign him, and give him better help.
http://www.hardballtimes.com/the-downside-of-clayton-kershaw/
Interesting read…..but it was written prior to the 2015 season. Common sense says a pitcher declines in his 30’s. I don’t need some stat geek to tell me that. But a dominant pitcher can still be a very good pitcher in his early 30’s and more than serviceable in his late 30’s. Only a few have qualified as such….Greg Maddux, Roger Clemens, Randy Johnson, Nolan Ryan, Tom Seaver, Steve Carlton, etc. That is the group that I feel Kershaw is most alike.
Look, if Freidman wants to show his ‘intelligence’ (I use that loosely) and not resign Kershaw then they had better be trading him and getting something in return. I said the same thing about Grienke. The small market mentality lost Grienke and if they do not watch it they will lose Kershaw for nothing as well. You either sign him to a long term deal or trade him. Let’s see what the overpaid President of Dodgers Baseball Operations decides to do. The clock is ticking.
Doesn’t matter when it was written. His point is well made – pitchers are a risk. Every year they pitch they are one year closer to to the end. And pitchers over 30, by documentation, are higher risks. You may be right about Kershaw being an outlier. I have no problem extending him to 35. Make it 36 with a mutual option. That would be 3-4 more years to his current contract. Give him a raise too. 5 years $180, plus option, is extremely generous. And I front load it so he has a chance to actually earn his money every year. That way we aren’t saddled with a lot of dead money if he scroinges a teres. That’s my offer. If he doesn’t take it find a 26 year old star who will.
So you offer Kershaw 5 years/$180M and Grienke (a year older when he was a FA) got 6 years/$205M. If I’m Kershaw, I’m gone due to the disrespect alone. I say, go find that 26 y/o star.
I said I would add 3 years with an option. That’s 6 years total, with raises, if option is exercised. That takes him to 36.
Maybe Kershaw wants to leave. If we don’t get it done in his prime, maybe he wants to finish at home. If we don’t get it done, and he wants to finish in Texas, he’s gone anyway. Respect? Ef that. The Dodgers made him the highest paid pitcher in MLB. Respect that.
That should read if we DO get it done and he wants to leave he’s gone anyway.
We’re using him up. I don’t want him to lead the league in starts and IP but currently he leads in both. I want him rested for post season, but we may need to ride him hard to the finish line just to play in October.
Turner back in starting lineup tonight per Roberts. Not sure who goes down or to the phantom DL. Pederson starts EXTENDED re-hab. Jhonny Peralta DFA’d by the Cardinals.
Quandary, who goes out when Turner is activated??? A pitcher, or do they send one of the outfielders or infielders to the DL or the minors? Not such a clear cut choice. Although putting Forsythe on the DL would make sense to me since the guy is not doing a thing.
Rockies won their 40th game today beating the Cubs 5-3. Now own 2.5 game lead on Az, and 3 on the Dodgers. Of course that will change after tonight’s game one way or the other.
Gurnick reports that Eibner is optioned to OKC and Turner activated.
Yu Darvish anyone:
“A package built around Alex Verdugo and Willie Calhoun with a couple high-ceiling, lower-level prospects sprinkled in to sweeten the deal should be enough to at least get the Dodgers a seat at the table.”
Tonight’s starting lineup….Taylor CF Seager SS Turner 3B Gutierrez LF Forsythe 2B Barnes C Bellinger 1B Hernandez RF Hill P……….most of the 2nd team in there tonight. Bench will be Gonzo, Grandal, Utley and Puig. According to Gurnick, Avilan will be activated tonight also. No corresponding move announced yet.
Dylan Hernandez, whose reputation is much higher than my estimation, has a nice look at the next (after Verdugo/Calhoun/Oaks) generation of prospects:
http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-dodgers-rancho-hernandez-20170609-story.html
Good article. I’m not convinced Yadier Alvarez and Yusniel Diaz need to be packaged in a trade for a Marcel Ozuna. It’s too early to get a sense of their development, but with Alvarez, his ceiling is so high I’m just not comfortable with letting him go yet. At with Holmes and Cotton, it was determined the former was regressing in his development, and the latter’s ceiling was that of mid rotation and there was no room on the roster for him to advance the MLB squad. It was a good trade, therefore, for Hill.
Why would you think it would take Alvarez and Diaz for Ozuna? Because of a history of overpaying in trades? I read Verdugo, Calhoun and change. I don’t trade Alvarez.
“It was a good trade, therefor for Hill”. Sticking with that story hey? Hill and Reddick’s numbers in LA for ’16 have not changed. You should maybe review them sometime.
I too believe there is some unique talent on that team in RC. I look forward to them actually hitting A pitchers successfuly. None of those guys are hitting over .255. I think they will, but until they do, they are a long way off. All those guys fit into the ’18 and beyond plans. As did Cotton, Schebler, and Holmes.
I thought the more interesting article by Hernandez was the one regarding antagonizing Kershaw. I agree with Roberts decision to remove him. Frankly I don’t want Kershaw throwing over 100 pitches in any game before October. But it looks like Kershaw might have the last word on that, and other issues.
Badger
Of course I agree with you about limiting, Kershaw innings.
And thankfully it looks like Roberts is going to do that.
Kershaw has not been the same pitcher in the post season, so it is time to limit his innings like they have limited the other pitchers innings, but not quite as much.
And I do think we they have over paid some of these pitchers, and Hill is unfortunately not close to that same pitcher, he was last year.
It was mentioned by someone on another blog who shall remain nameless that it would probably take Alvarez, Diaz and Jacob Rhame to get it done.
Seriously, though. Why on Earth would you think the Marlins would take Verdugo, whose ceiling is probably less than Ozuna, and a guy who can’t field for Ozuna, who might be one of the most sought after players this trade deadline? Ozuna is already overvalued in my opinion. Getting him is going to be expensive for any team that wants him and his favorable contract. Wait, you though the Dodgers could have had Hamels for De Leon and a couple of throw ins. LOL
And you said it would take Seager, Urias and then some. LOLouder.
Calhoun and Verdugo are hitters. You don’t like either of them then sub Diaz. Add a low level arm and it could work. Like you just said, Ozuna ain’t all that. You don’t trade Alvarez unless it’s for a bonafide star. Whoever made that comment you refer to doesn’t know his ass from a made in Taiwan water filter. You can tell him I said so.
Ha…Gotcha. It wasn’t Timmons who suggested that trade package. It was someone else who I think is very knowledgeable. See all the lively discussion you miss out on.
That wasn’t me who suggested it would have taken those guys. That’s what was reported Amaro wanted…and if not those guys, it was reported it would have taken a hefty package of maybe six prospects.
Yet suddenly, for you every prospect is precious…never to be traded under any circumstance.
“It’s what was reported Amaro wanted”. Reported by who and so what he wanted it. He accepted a whole lot less. At the time DeLeon was a top 20 prospect, Grant Holmes was a Top 35 prospect, and a package with them leading it would have blown away what the Rangers offered. We also still had current Major League players like Schebler and Cotton or a flip in that Olivera trade where we ended up with Wood, Avilan and Peraza – there were a number of creative options mentioned that might have worked. They were talked about repeatedly, with those FAZophants negating them all saying ad nauseum SEAGER AND URIAS.
I think Hamels would have won that Game 3. FAZ didn’t get creative, they got the disaster of Latos/Johnson and we got bounced in the playoffs. Yeah, hindsight is 20/20. But I said it then – starting Anderson was a huge mistake. We scored 7 runs and lost. Why? You know why. We all know why.
As for what I’m missing out on, you can have the felon Timmons. I want nothing to do with him. After he voluntarily showed everyone who he is it surprises me so many choose to continue to kiss his ass.
Well, all your creative trade options are just your wishful thinking. Far from fans on some blog, GMs are shrewd, and just because we wish we can have so and so for a bag of balls, doesn’t mean a competitive GM is going to accept it. The Phillies got a quantitative haul. Regardless of what you think, the Dodgers would have had to give up a lot, either in quantity or quality.
No one kisses Timmon’s ass. People disagree with him on that other nameless blog all the time. In fact I called him a moron for proposing a trade for Matt Harvey. It’s just there’s no bitterness and hatred. It’s just civil discussion. After all, it’s just baseball.
I agree they would have. I thought two prospects in the Top 25, plus a couple others was a good offer. Better than what they got. And don’t forget along with Hamels the Phillies also gave Texas Jake Diekman, a ML reliever who has worked out ok for the Rangers. We could have told them to keep him. Honestly I don’t think the Dodgers management was seriously interested in Hamels.
You called Timmons a moron? Gotta give you an atta boy for that.
Moving on….
I’m not a fan of Monday Morning Quarterbacking trades, but I also quite liked the Hill trade.
Then again, I over the Grandal trade and on this blog am in the minority on that too.
Not sure I totally concur with Hernandez about this team in high A. The peripherals are all over the place, but it’s definitely better to have talent than not. I love Ibandel Isabel’s name so much.
You “quite liked” the Hill trade. He was on the DL at the time of the trade, had only thrown 12 innings in July. He didn’t even pitch for us until August 24th. Only pitched 34 innings. We lost the last 3 games he started. For that we gave up 3 top prospects. And you liked that trade.
Then we signed that guy for $48mm, paying him more every year he ages until he is 39.
We need to do better in giving up top prospects. We need to do get younger and stronger with every $48 million we spend.
50% correct (IMO,) but the main thesis is correct in what I said: that I do and did like the Hill trade.
Anyone who liked the Hill trade is 2 slices short of a full loaf. That guy struggled to get through 5 innings. He has won exactly 6 regular season games since he came to LA and is definitely not a #2 starter which is what FAZMANIA said he was going to be. 3 kids with talent for an over the hill pitcher and a banjo hitting outfielder…yeah, that was a great deal. Plus we have this dreg blocking our kids for 2 more years.
But you give your approbation to the deal that brought Cueto to the Royals for a month. He wasn’t very good during August, but had that one good game that helped KC win the WS. The Royals traded away prospects for one good game. Of course that game was important. Hill was actually very good in the playoffs, and had a chance to win that one big game, but wasn’t given that chance.
Sure, the team is going to get younger and stronger. But what is 48 million going to buy you? It ain’t Chris Sale. Hill is actually a very good pitcher. Who knows, maybe he’s lost it and the signing winds up being a bust, but he has a unique repertoire of curveballs that no one really else throws, and no one throws as many. He was very effective last year, and because he doesn’t rely on velocity, his age is less of an issue. How old was Phil Niekro when he retired? He was OLD.
Just read a little on Phil Niekro. He was 21-20 in 1979 and pitched 342 innings. LOL. You will probably never see that again.
It’s true the FA starting pitching market was thin this winter. But there were some guys that looked like bargains. Helickson, Nova, Volquez and Chacin were available. All of them for much less than we gave Hill. I would take any of them over Rich Hill. Not that they are great, but they are reliable. We need guys who can take the ball every 5th day, and we all know that’s not Hill.
Patch, those are all good points. But I disagree that Hill is a GOOD pitcher. Hill had 1/2 a good season last year. Then he was injured. He turned that 1/2 season into a 48 million dollar contract. He has been far from GOOD this year. Any person blind in one eye can see how MEDIOCRE he has been. There is no way he is worth that deal. 2 more years after this one of him pitching maybe 5 if we are lucky, plus he is blocking the kids who have real talent. Hill is nothing more than a journeyman, and he was signed to be the #2. That’s what everybody said, and that is what they expected……Surprise! He sucks. As for Niekro, I saw the guy pitch and you cannot compare a knuckleballer to Hill. Wilbur Wood won 24 and lost over 20 too. Hough pitched over 20 years. No wear and tear on the arm, and no blisters. Cueto’s deal also has an opt out clause which we all know he is going to use after this year.