2014 Los Angeles Dodgers Thread

[h0llywood]

                                                            

 

With our football season sadly now on hibernation, it just means a new year for the boys in blue! This thread is a continuation of last year's 2013 thread.

 

First order of the day:

 

Dodgers are looking to sign Kershaw by this Friday. He was offered around 300 million last season which is ridiculous. I hope he does sign for 7 years at 210 million. That is a 30 million yearly average. Any length longer or any amount higher would be overboard despite being the best pitcher in the game.

 

Dodgers going after Masahiro Tanaka hard as well. If they happen to land him the rotation will look like this:

 

Clayton Kershaw 

Zach Greinke  
Masahiro Tanaka 
Hyun Jin Ryu
Dan Haren
Josh Beckett
Chad Billingsley

 

If the outfield remains the same, the power hitting will be monstrous if Kemp stays healthy. The lineup as it stands is as follows:

 

1) Carl Crawford (OF)
2) Yasiel Puig (OF)
3) Adrian Gonzalez (1B)

4) Hanley Ramirez (SS)
5) Matt Kemp (OF)

6) AJ Ellis ©

7) Juan Uribe (3B)

8) Alexander Guerrero (2B)

9) Pitcher

 

That is a monster line up! 1-5 would be the most feared in all of baseball.

 

The beard is back in the fold and the bullpen remains dominant with Howell, Withrow, League (Bleh), and Rodriguez with the long relief. Kenley Jansen remains one of the games best closers.

 

Let's hope to a better 2014! Let's go Blue!

 

[Double Trouble]

You were very close on that Kershaw extension. 7yr 215mill. Good deal for both sides.  Now time for Tanaka.

[Kevin Greene]

Hey, I start the Dodger threads!

 

Good news locking up Kershaw, simply the best pitcher in baseball.

Tanaka, I don't know. 

Kershaw, Grienke, Riu, Billingsly, Beckett, Haren.

Tanaka might be our #3 starter.

The Angels REALLY need arms and I'll be surprised if they don't do whatever it takes to ink Tanaka.

 

 

Can't wait for Spring Training!

 

[Rise of The Hive]

What a contract, he deserves big money.

[Kevin Greene]

                                                            

 

 

 

 

If the outfield remains the same, the power hitting will be monstrous if Kemp stays healthy. The lineup as it stands is as follows:

 

1) Carl Crawford (OF)

2) Yasiel Puig (OF)

3) Adrian Gonzalez (1B)

4) Hanley Ramirez (SS)

5) Matt Kemp (OF)

6) AJ Ellis ©

7) Juan Uribe (3B)

8) Alexander Guerrero (2B)

9) Pitcher

 

That is a monster line up! 1-5 would be the most feared in all of baseball.

 

 

 

 

Something has to give with Andre Ethier, The Dodgers have shopped Kemp and there simply isn't enough playing time for a Crawford/Kemp/Ethier/Puig outfield.

Only Puig is untouchable right now.

 

BTW, I like your lineup position potentially there but swap Kemp and Gonzales.

Mattingly, fug we signed him long term but nothing pisses me off more than when he hits Puig in the 5 spot behind Gonzales. 

Fricking Mattingly had Puig in the 5 spot all through the Playoffs and Puig can't utilize his speed and aggressiveness waiting for Gonzales who is about as slow as a sloth running the bases.

Pull your head out Skip.

[h0llywood]

There's a great article floating around somewhere about why the Dodgers should and will land Tanaka. He is a top pitcher that will be had for money without having to give up players unlike David Price. The 2014 season is looking as good as ever.

[Double Trouble]

Something has to give with Andre Ethier, The Dodgers have shopped Kemp and there simply isn't enough playing time for a Crawford/Kemp/Ethier/Puig outfield.

Only Puig is untouchable right now.

 

BTW, I like your lineup position potentially there but swap Kemp and Gonzales.

Mattingly, fug we signed him long term but nothing pisses me off more than when he hits Puig in the 5 spot behind Gonzales. 

Fricking Mattingly had Puig in the 5 spot all through the Playoffs and Puig can't utilize his speed and aggressiveness waiting for Gonzales who is about as slow as a sloth running the bases.

Pull your head out Skip.

What they do with the outfield depends on whether they think Joc Pederson is ready to come in and make an impact.  

If they aren't totally sure he is ready, I don't see them shopping Ethier.  Those four guys were all healthy at the same time for a grand total of...2 games. So I think there is enough time for all of them considering the history.  But, if Joc Pederson is ready then trading Ethier would be smart,  we could probably unload around half his contract on other team.  Or take the whole thing on and get a decent prospect.  

 

And I'm not a fan of Mattingly either. Don't get me started about his decision to pinch run Dee Gordon for A-Gon in game 1.

[*FreeFua*]

Hey, I start the Dodger threads!

Good news locking up Kershaw, simply the best pitcher in baseball.

Tanaka, I don't know.

Kershaw, Grienke, Riu, Billingsly, Beckett, Haren.

Tanaka might be our #3 starter.

The Angels REALLY need arms and I'll be surprised if they don't do whatever it takes to ink Tanaka.

Can't wait for Spring Training!

Die hard Angels fan here.

Yeah we could use another arm but I do not want to see Arte over pay for Garza. I highly doubt the Angels end up getting Tanaka and that may be for the best. His numbers in Texas were not impressive last year and we already have enough guys that struggle to pitch in Texas.

Loved the Skaggs, Santiago return for Trumbo. Wasn't a Trumbo fan at all. Guy has the same eyes to toes strike zone as Vladdy did. So at worst we go Santiago, Richards and Skaggs 3,4,5. Anything better than watching Blanton strut his fat @ss out there every fifth day.

Hamilton has apparently put back the 20 pounds he lost during last off season. There's no doubt in my mind the guy was on roids while in Texas. Pujols feels "awesome" but every player says that every January.

It was really nice have the Panthers play so far into this year because I have no faith in Pujols or Hamilton to rebound and expect it to be another long season.

Also on the tanaka situation, the angels only have 15-20 million to spend. Arte has said he doesn't want to go over the limit. Now the competitive side of Arte may not care when the time actually comes but I don't expect the Angels to do sign Tanaka to some ridiculous contract. Especially when we have Weaver and Wilson on decent contracts.

[*FreeFua*]

Thought that Kershaw contract was an awesome contract for Kershaw. Can't he opt out at 30 (year 5)? He'll have a chance to land to mega deals in his career.

[h0llywood]

Apparently there's a "Special" announcement today at 10:00am PST (1:00 EST). Pretty sure it's about Kershaw but don't know why they won't just call it that. Maybe some other personnel signings?

[Kevin Greene]

A heads up to all Dodger fans. Feb 25 the new Dodger channel debuts and is the home for all Dodger broadcasts.

The rights are owned by TWC due to thei multi-billion deal with the Dodgers.

 

 

With the blessing of Major League Baseball, the Dodgers are about to launch a publicity push for their new SportsNet LA channel.

The new television home is set to debut Feb. 25, the day before the Dodgers open their Cactus League schedule. SportsNet LA plans to air all of the team’s spring training games, Dodgers President Stan Kasten said.

The channel also will air every regular-season game (except those selected for national Fox or ESPN broadcasts) and programs featuring player profiles and behind-the-scenes activities. Although SportsNet LA does not carry the Dodgers name, Kasten said there are no plans for other sports -- or any other programming -- on the channel.

“For the first time ever, there is going to be a Dodger-only channel with Dodger-only content 24-7,” he said.

Whether fans will be able to see that channel on Feb. 25 -- or when the Dodgers open the season in Australia on March 22 -- could be an ongoing story over the next two months. The Dodgers’ partner, Time Warner Cable, is responsible for securing deals to make the channel available on cable and satellite systems besides the ones operated by TWC.

As with the launch of almost all new sports channels, cable and satellite operators are expected to object to the cost of SportsNet LA -- expected to be about $5 per month, per subscriber. Negotiations are expected to start in earnest shortly, with deals most likely just before or just after opening day.

“We want every home to have access to this Dodger channel all the time,” Kasten said.

http://www.latimes.com/sports/dodgersnow/la-sp-dn-dodgers-time-warner-cable-mlb-tv-deal-20140115,0,5374663.story#ixzz2qmoL6Uv4

 

Currently, Dish Network (my provider) does not own broadcast rights to this channel. I've already lost Laker broadcasts due to the failure of Dish to gain those rights. If the Dodgers broadcast rights aren't secured I will be switching to Direct asap assuming they acquire Dodger rights in addition to the Laker rights they already have.

Good luck.

[Jangler]

[Kevin Greene]

Cubbies, lol.

 

[Jangler]

yeah...