Worst to First - The Sequel

[pauwoo]

Joe Numbers may be one of the best baseball names ever.

[mirrf]

Originally Posted by pauwoo

Joe Numbers may be one of the best baseball names ever.

That is good, but I have a thing for the name "Vic Shufflebottom"

[pauwoo]

Originally Posted by mirrf

That is good, but I have a thing for the name "Vic Shufflebottom"

I imagine ol' Shufflebottom running around the bases like a Mallard with a broken wing.

[NYY #23]

Numbers does have a good baseball name. He's come up big on the downside of his career. Shufflebottom was another good name. Maybe I need to wrap things up with an all-name team? I think I still have to go with Vicente Cano as my favorite though.

[NYY #23]

The Dodgers will be taking on the Padres in the Wild Card round, our division rivals who finished with 8 more wins this season. The Dodgers have an edge with our offense, while the Padres hold an edge with their pitching, and the Padres beat us 7 of 12 games this year.

[NYY #23]

Sherman Miller got his first taste of postseason baseball today, and allowed 6 runs in 3 innings to take the loss. Millers' still just 24 years old, and I think things will get better for him.

Another 24 year old had a big game for the Dodgers, Darren Dooley. Dooley went 3-4 at the plate with a solo homer.

[NYY #23]

For the most part the Dodgers are a young team, especially our pitchers, so I suppose it's only natural we're taking our lumps in our first postseason appearance. Today it was Chris Moss who allowed 6 runs in 3 1/3 innings to take the loss as the Padres beat the Dodgers 6-2.

I'm not sure it will make a big difference, but at least we head home for Game 3, and hopefully we can pull off at least one win.

[NYY #23]

We turned to our ace Gordon Baird as our final hope for the 2080 season. We'd need him to deliver a quality start to avoid elimination, and while he didn't give us the distance he did pitch 4 innings of 2 hit ball, allowing an unearned run while walking four and striking out 5.

Baird left the game trailing 1-0, but in the bottom of the sixth Tim Delaney hit a two-run homer to give the Dodgers a 2-1 lead, but the Dodgers would surrender that lead in the top of the eighth and the game would stay tied at 2 and head into extra innings.

With Rickie Arcizo on the mound the Padres would get a leadoff walk and Steve Barton would connect on a two-run homer to give the Padres the 4-2 lead. Would that mean a 3 game sweep for the Padres?

With our season on the line in the bottom of the tenth Ben Morgan would lead off the inning with a single. Miguel Anaya would walk and a single by Tim Delaney would load the bases. Mike Williams would draw a walk to score a run, and Steve Kennedy would draw a bases-loaded walk to tie the game.

With one out the Dodgers made it a ballgame again, but Matt Bell and Gerald Spilborghs would both strike out and we'd head to the eleventh. Ben Morgan started the rally in the tenth, and ended the game in the eleventh with a solo home run as the Dodgers live to fight another day.

[NYY #23]

A grand slam from Steve Kennedy was the final blow of a 7 run seventh inning as the Dodgers knocked off the Padres 10-5 to even up the series. Ray Harvey added a home run while Tim Delaney added three RBI in the win.

Antonio Sandoval turned in a solid start pitching 6 innings while surrendering 2 runs on 6 hits but left with a no-decision, with Rickie Arcizo picking up his second win of the series.

We'll head back to San Diego for a winner take all Game 5.

[NYY #23]

The Dodgers would waste an early lead as the Padres won the series 6-5 in 10 innings to advance to the Division Series, ending the Dodgers season.

Bryan Carson took the loss for the Dodgers after allowing a run in 2 2/3 innings. Offensively the Dodgers got a three-run homer from Miguel Anaya and solo shot from Ben Morgan.

[NYY #23]

Our third year in Los Angeles proved to be successful, and I hope we'll be able to make improvements heading into our fourth year as we attempt to win the NL West, and advance further in the playoffs. We had several players holding an option for next year. LF Matt Bell wants to come back for $8 million next year. Russell Frasier also executed his option, although the Phillies will be paying for the bulk of his $14.6 million contract. Tim Delaney's option for next year vested and the 38-year-old will be back playing shortstop next year. A .257 batting average with 23 home runs, 81 RBI, and a WAR of 4.4 isn't bad for anyone, let alone a 38-year-old. If he keeps this up we'll seriously have to consider an extension.

Ricky Arcizo also executed his $5 million option. Then finally Bryan Carson called it quits after a long career. He finished with a career record of 171-129 with 285 saves and a 3.52 ERA in 2538 1/3 innings with 2032 strikeouts.

We expect to allow outfielders Julian Gunn, Steve Kennedy, and Ben Morgan to leave via free agency along with 1B Joe Numbers.

The Dodgers will head into the offseason with $60 million to spend.

Los Angeles Dodgers - 75-87 (.463) 25 GB
2078 - Los Angeles Dodgers - 80-82 (.494) 17 GB (Season Score - 526)
2079 - Los Angeles Dodgers - 83-79 (.512) 12 GB (Season Score - 470)
2080 - Los Angeles Dodgers - 86-77 (.528) 9 GB (Lost Wild Card Series 3-2 to San Diego Padres, Season Score - 632)

[NYY #23]

Three players were elected to the Hall of Fame this year:








1B Sergio Muñóz 81.1 (1st year) Inducted HOF
CL Charlie Cooke 79.2 (1st year) Inducted HOF
1B Oliver Osborne 77.0 (4th year) Inducted HOF
CF Enrique Bueno 70.1 (1st year)
CL Roberto María 62.9 (5th year)
1B Anthony Webb 58.8 (7th year)
CL Tony Hodge 49.7 (4th year)
2B Edward James 48.7 (1st year)
CL Gabriel Valdés 45.0 (3rd year)
CL Cristo Hernández 35.5 (1st year)
CL Dave Beard 32.4 (2nd year)
C Andrea Pometti 28.3 (2nd year)
SS Vinny Sánchez 19.8 (2nd year)
CF Juan Salas 19.8 (1st year)
SP Jorge Cruz 18.2 (5th year)
SP Ernesto Rodríguez 16.7 (1st year)
CL Pedro Navarro 15.4 (6th year)
CF Rafael Mendoza 12.3 (1st year)
SP Juan Galván 6.9 (3rd year)
CL Jerry Hale 6.0 (2nd year)
CL Matt Simmons Jr. 6.0 (3rd year)
C Edward Widgery 6.0 (4th year)
CL Gustavo López 5.7 (2nd year)
C Edgardo Díaz 4.7 (6th year) Dropped
SP Svetozar Grol 4.7 (3rd year) Dropped
SP Nick Bane 4.4 (4th year) Dropped
SS Sergio Gallegos 3.8 (1st year) Dropped
RP Adam Ruíz 3.8 (1st year) Dropped
CL Bartolo Flores 3.5 (2nd year) Dropped
C Ramón Díaz 3.1 (2nd year) Dropped
SP Jeff Lowe 3.1 (6th year) Dropped
3B Víctor Padilla 2.5 (3rd year) Dropped
LF Rafael Salas 2.2 (1st year) Dropped
CF John Dreher 2.2 (1st year) Dropped
SP Jimmy Ladd 2.2 (1st year) Dropped
1B Dave Gill 0.0 (1st year) Dropped

[NYY #23]

It was an interesting offseason for the Dodgers, and I'm still not sure how I feel about how things turned out. First, the challenge to improve the team with the free agent talent not matching our areas of need. Two of the best free agents played third base, which was occupied by Darren Dooley, who hit .231 with 25 home runs, but we did have questions about his defense.

Option A was Matt Mills, a 35-year-old who hit .287 with 34 home runs and 93 RBI. We could sign Mills for 4 years and $66 million

Option B was Luke Clark, a 29-year-old who hit .244 with 34 home runs and 95 RBI. He was better defensively but would cost $262 million over 10 years. He'd want an opt-out after three years, in exchange for the final two years team options with a $3.4 million buyout.

Both required compensation, but in the end I went with option A over option B because of the length of the deal. Or so I thought. My only guess is during the debating I accidentally offered a contract to both Mills and Clark, and they both accepted our deal.

So that makes things tricky. As of now the plan is for Mills to play third, Clark to play shortstop, Tim Delaney to play second, and second baseman Bennett Ferguson set to DH. Dooley is the odd man out, but I'll keep a close eye on whether my manager can work out the right amount of playing time for the mess I created.

We also added former Gator Keith Hudson on a three year $43 million contract. He hit .264 with 19 home runs and 71 RBI last year. Another former Gator was added to our roster with catcher Andy Jordan signing a three year $3.3 million contract. Last year he hit .253 with 16 home runs and 52 RBI. His WAR over the past three years is 9.4, and he just turned 30 years old. I think we got a big bargain that allowed us to splurge elsewhere.

That splurging would lead to right fielder Earl McKinney signing a three year $20 million contract after he hit .287 with 18 home runs and 77 RBI last year. And also 31-year-old reliever Bernardo Davis signing a three year $6 million contract.

I believe the Dodgers are done this offseason, and hopefully ready to compete for the division. We've added more WAR than any other team in baseball so far (13). Let's hope it works out on the field.

[mirrf]

Originally Posted by NYY #23

Both required compensation, but in the end I went with option A over option B because of the length of the deal. Or so I thought. My only guess is during the debating I accidentally offered a contract to both Mills and Clark, and they both accepted our deal.

That's funny.

[NYY #23]

It was a good start to the year for the Dodgers going 13-12 and finishing above .500. We're getting good results from the front of our rotation with Gordon Baird and Sherman Miller both pitching well.

Tim Delaney crossed the 400 home run mark this month. He's struggling at the plate this year, and I do worry that could be caused by a shift to second base.

Scott Hampton of the Kodiaks also crossed the 400 home run threshold, with Rick Juhan hitting his 300th career homer and Tom Black of the Yankees picking his 2000th career hit.

[NYY #23]

While I felt good ending April, May has left me a little bit more worried. With a 12-16 record in May the Dodgers are struggling. At this point, our offseason additions are hardly making a difference. Our team needs to heat up or we're going to be in trouble.

I don't usually focus on extensions for arbitration-eligible players, let alone players before they hit arbitration, but with Gordon Baird continuing to pitch well I thought why not see what he's interested in. He's making the minimum this year still, but we offered a 7 year $61 million contract, and Baird signed. He'll get a big raise next year ($5.7 million), and each year his contract will increase by $1 million. Now we just need to hope he can keep things up.

It's been a while since I've talked about Zach Davis. In his third year, he went 18-7 with a 2.45 ERA and looked like he was going to dominate for a long time. Two years later he went 18-3 with a 1.40 ERA and won his second Cy Young and first MVP. The sky was the limit for Davis until he tore his labrum. He never quite lived up to expectations and has spent a lot of time on the disabled list. After signing a big 5 year $132 million contract with the Cardinals three years ago he's made just 46 starts and hit the disabled list again. A cautionary tale to temper expectations for Baird, although if we can get two Cy Young Awards out of Baird I think I'd take it.

31-year-old Jorge Sanchez of the Mariners hit the 300th home run of his career.

[mirrf]

New years' bump.

[NYY #23]

Originally Posted by mirrf

New years' bump.

Happy New Year, I'm getting bad at this. I do have a couple posts ready to go though, I just need to get back into a regular cycle.

[NYY #23]

It was a boring draft for the Dodgers as we didn't draft until the third round where we selected second baseman Chad Walker. In the fourth round we selected starting pitcher Ramon Cardenas with right fielder Royce Thompson selected in the fifth round.

On the field the Dodgers started June very hot going 10-3. Around the league 31-year-old Wes Gillespie of the Rangers saved the 300th game of his career.

[NYY #23]

A 20-7 month certainly makes you feel a lot better about things. Our offense has started to heat up, and we're pitching well. Tim Delaney had a hot month in June hitting .345 with 8 home runs and 20 RBI. He's 38 years old, but I can't help but want him back next year, maybe switching over to first base. At this point we're not ready to commit to a four year extension though.

Aaron Ruffin saved the 400th game of his career for the Dodgers this month.