2013 Los Angeles Dodgers season review: Outfielders

The Dodgers' outfield was quite solid despite a rash of injuries in 2013. It got a boost from a hot-hitting rookie, a quitely consistent center fielder and a fast-starting left fielder. They also didn't get much from their former MVP candidate.

Dodgers outfield by the numbers

Left field

.260/.321/.377

719 PA, 80 R, 170 H, 37 2B, 3 3B, 11 HR, 50 RBI, 17 SB, 57 BB, 100 K

Center field

.286/.360/.419

695 PA, 74 R, 176 H, 38 2B, 1 3B, 14 HR, 73 RBI, 12 SB, 65 BB, 140 K

Right field

.290/.361/.475

711 PA, 85 R, 183 H, 36 2B, 3 3B, 25 HR, 67 RBI, 12 SB, 61 BB, 149 K

Individual performers (all Wins Above Replacement numbers taken from FanGraphs)

Carl Crawford

.283/.329/.407, 6 HR, 31 RBI, 15 SB, 6.0 BB%, 2.9 WAR

- Crawford got off to a hot start, leading the Dodgers in April and early May. He cooled off, (predictably) got hurt, struggled before somewhat surging before the playoffs. He then proceeded to hit four home runs in 10 playoff games. He's a streaky hitter who was solid defensively in left field.

Grade: B

Matt Kemp

.270/.328/.395, 6 HR, 33 RBI, 15 2B, 7.6 BB%, -0.4 WAR

- Kemp wasn't healthy to start the season, and it showed. Once he got healthy, he got hurt, again. Once he got healthy, again, he got hurt, again. The ankle injury he suffered the Sunday after the All-Star break in Washington bothered him the rest of the season. He showed signs of the MVP-caliber player he is, but his health wouldn't allow him to sustain it. It was surprising that he didn't play in the playoffs because of the severity of his ankle injury. Hopefully he doesn't play in 2014 until he's 100 percent. Two off-season surgries mean he might not be ready for the start of the season, which is OK.

Grade: D+

Andre Ethier

.272/.360/.423, 12 HR, 52 RBI, 33 2B, 11.0 BB%, 2.9 WAR

- Ethier's season was good, if unspectacular. His on-base percentage was respectable, his walk rate was above-average and his play in center field was surprisingly good. He'll likely be traded this off-season, but his 2013 performance was much better than it seemed.

Grade: B

Yasiel Puig

.319/.391/.534, 19 HR, 42 RBI, 21 2B, 8.3 BB%, 4.0 WAR

- Puig was the Dodgers' most valuable and best outfielder after being recalled on June 3. His debut was great as he took the baseball world by storm. His power is undeniable, as is his arm. I don't think he's a .319 hitter going forward, but he's definitely a player you can build your team around. He's only going to get better with age (he'll be 23 next season).

Grade: A

Skip Schumaker

.263/.332/.332, 2 HR, 30 RBI, 16 2B, 7.9 BB%, -1.0 WAR

- Schumaker's numbers don't look that bad, but they still amounted to a minus-1-win player. He was a win worse than anyone the Dodgers could have acquired off the waiver wire or in Triple-A. At least he threw a scoreless inning of relief and topped out at 91 MPH on the radar gun. He gets a half-a-grade point for that alone.

Grade: D

Scott Van Slyke

.240/.342/.465, 7 HR, 19 RBI, 8 2B, 13.2 BB%, 0.9 WAR

- Van Slyke proved himself to be a capable bench player with power for the Dodgers -- something they haven't had in seemingly forever. Yet, he was absent in the playoffs despite being on the roster. Van Slyke should be the fourth outfielder this team absolutely needs (after someone is traded, of course).

Grade: B

The rest

Nick Buss, Grade: INC

Alex Castellanos, Grade: INC

Elian Herrera, Grade: INC

Photo credits: Dustin Nosler, Feelin' Kinda Blue

Podcast: 'Dugout Blues' episode 60 - NLCS review, Guerrero, Kershaw, more

On this episode of "Dugout Blues," Jared Massey (Dodger Diamond) and I lament the end of the Dodgers' season after losing 4-2 in the 2013 National League Championship Series. Go Red Sox.

But before this, Jared paid tribute to the recently departed Alex Castellanos. He was designated for assignment late last week (and was traded to Boston on Wednesday).

Surprisingly, we don't spend a ton of time on that series. Instead, Don Mattingly and his Monday press conference was the topic of a lot of discussion. I'm still not sold he's going to be back, but the longer he's still the Dodger manager after Monday, the better.

The Dodgers finally signed Alexander Guerrero after trying multiple times. He should be the team's starting second baseman for the foreseeable future.

Clayton Kershaw, despite a terrible Game 6, is in line for a huge payday. It seems like we've been saying this for awhile, but, unlike Mattingly returning, I am confident this deal will get done before the start of the 2014 season.

Stop me if you've heard this one: Matt Kemp had another surgery. This time, it was his ankle. He had shoulder surgery a few weeks ago. Here's hoping he comes back healthy for 2014, even if it isn't for the start of the season.

David Price rumors are still floating around. We do our best to sift through everything and give our opinion on the situation. Anytime you can add an elite pitcher, it certainly isn't a bad thing (see: Zack Greinke).

Episode dedications
Jared: Alex Castellanos
Dustin: Masao Kida (even if Jared wouldn't let me say it)

Then, we close with Q&A, which were plentiful. Keep it up!

We'll probably record every other week, or as news warrants, during the winter.

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Look for new episodes of "Dugout Blues" every Wednesday. Don't forget to subscribe to the podcast and review us on iTunes. We want to make this the best podcast we can so we're always looking for suggestions and ways to improve.

If you have questions you'd like us to answer or certain topics/players you want to hear more about, feel free to email us (ladugout@gmail.com or feelinkindablue@gmail.com) or send us messages on Twitter (@Dodger_Diamond or @FeelinKindaBlue). You can also "Like" the podcast on Facebook. We always welcome audience participation.

Image credit: Joe Martin

Dodgers designate Alex Castellanos for assignment, claim OF Mike Baxter

Alex Castellanos, the player acquired from the Cardinals for Rafael Furcal in 2011, was designated for assignment on Thursday by the Dodgers in favor of Mike Baxter.

The Dodgers claimed Baxter, 28, off waivers from the Mets. This is an all-important roster move in October.

No it isn't.

While I think Castellanos should get a chance to be a fourth- or (more likely) a fifth-outfielder in the majors, it won't come with the Dodgers. Castellanos has produced in Triple-A, but he's played in one of the most hitter-friendly environments around, so take those numbers with a grain of salt.

Castellanos, 27, is an all-bat player with a really good arm. He was unsuccessful in trying to play second- and third base for the Albuquerque Isotopes in 2012 and 2013. He got his feet wet in the majors, going 7-for-41 (.171) with a couple home runs and 13 strikeouts. If he isn't hitting, he's a career minor-leaguer. That's probably the safest bet at this rate.

His minor-league numbers have yet to come close to translating to the majors due to lack of opportunity and, more likely, a lack of overall skill. Despite that, I'd be surprised if another team doesn't pick him up.

Baxter isn't much of a player, posting a .229/.335/.348 triple slash in 415 plate appearances spread over four seasons. He actually made his Major League debut against the Dodgers in 2010 with the Padres. He was San Diego's fourth-round draft pick in 2005.

I'd be surprised if Baxter is still on the 40-man roster come February or March. Then again, I thought Matt Angle would have been gone long before he actually was, so Baxter has a better chance of sticking than it may seem.

He's really not any better than, say, Nick Buss right now, whom the Dodgers already have. This is probably just a procedural move because Castellanos was likely to be outrighted this winter anyway.

So, there's the roster update. Now about the Game 6 in St. Louis... more on that tomorrow.

Photo credit: Dustin Nosler, Feelin' Kinda Blue

Dodgers add Nick Chili Buss and Alex Castellanos to active roster

With Andre Ethier nursing a sore ankle and Hanley Ramirez nursing a sore hamstring (caused by an irritated nerve in his back), the Dodgers added a couple bats to the active roster today in the form of Nick Buss (who goes by Chili, his middle name) and Alex Castellanos.

Castellanos was already on the 40-man roster and played in four games earlier this season. What's interesting is Buss was not on the 40-man roster. Since there's no disabled list in September and the Dodgers' 40-man roster is already full-up. So, there needs to be a corresponding roster move. Here's what I see as the possibilities:

• Jose Dominguez to the 60-day disabled list
• Elian Herrera outrighted/designated for assignment
• Justin Sellers outrighted/designated for assignment

Nothing else really makes sense. My prediction (on Twitter) was a Herrera DFA, but perhaps Dominguez could be the guy. He hasn't fully recovered from his quad injury and probably won't be called upon to do anything this month or next anyway. If not, I'd put my money on Herrera being outrighted.

Dominguez went on the 15-day DL on July 22, so he'd be eligible to come off in the next week or so.

But back to Buss. We already know what Castellanos is (for the most part), but what's the deal with Buss? Well, he's not a top prospect, but he's been a solid minor-leaguer for the last three seasons.

As the Albuquerque Isotopes' best and most consistent player, he was named to the Pacific Coast League All-Star team and postseason All-Star team by hitting .303/.363/.525 with 17 home runs, 100 RBI, 29 doubles, 11 triples, 84 runs scored and 21 stolen bases (in 23 attempts).

His home/road splits have something to do with the overall good numbers Buss posted in 2013:

Home
.362/.434/.642
Road
.249/.295/.419

But he hits pretty well against lefties (probably aided by the home/road splits):

vs. RHP
.311/.373/.546
vs. LHP
.282/.338/.473

Buss, 26, has experience in all three outfield spots. He's played 449 games in center in his minor-league career, so he can obviously handle it. He has a little pop and has increased his walk rate four years in a row. He'll be a minor-league free agent after this year if the Dodgers don't to retain him.

Buss doesn't have any standout tools, but his baserunning and defense are probably the best. For this team, he could spell one of the regular outfielders (or even the backups) late in a game or be the second pinch-runner off the bench after Dee Gordon.

If nothing else, Buss will have a cool story to tell his children. It'd be a shock if he did anything of significance for the Dodgers this season.

Photo credit: Dustin Nosler, Feelin' Kinda Blue

Podcast: 'Dugout Blues' episode 43 - Puig, Jansen, Urias, Seager, draft

On this episode of "Dugout Blues," Jared Massey (Dodger Diamond) talk about everything Dodgers from the previous week, but not about the chicken-shit antics of the Diamondbacks on Tuesday night.

Yasiel Puig is a God or something. He won National League Player of the Week and is just getting started.

Kenley Jansen has finally unseated Brandon League as the team's closer. I wonder if he'll have to do this every year?

Chris Withrow and Alex Castellanos were recalled, much to Jared's pleasure (especially Castellanos). Odds are, they won't help much.

The true phenom Julio Urias pitched again last night. He got roughed up a bit, but it wasn't nearly as bad as the statline looks (and it isn't horrible). Sticking in Great Lakes, we talk about Corey Seager and how he may or may not be hurt again. I also have an interview with Aaron Miller, who's transitioning from the mound to the field nicely so far.

We recap the 2013 MLB Draft. We're both good with the Chris Anderson pick, I rip the Tom Windle pick and we give a couple later-round picks we both like. Initial thoughts: this draft isn't as good as the Dodgers' 2012 draft.

Finally, we answer listener questions, which were plentiful this week. Please, keep them coming.

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Look for new episodes of "Dugout Blues" every Wednesday. Don't forget to subscribe to the podcast and review us on iTunes. We want to make this the best podcast we can so we're always looking for suggestions and ways to improve.

If you have questions you'd like us to answer or certain topics/players you want to hear more about, feel free to email us (ladugout@gmail.com or feelinkindablue@gmail.com) or send us messages on Twitter (@Dodger_Diamond or @FeelinKindaBlue). You can also "Like" the podcast on Facebook. We always welcome audience participation.

Image credit: Joe Martin

Dodgers recall former top prospect Chris Withrow from Triple-A

The Dodgers recalled former first-round pick Chris Withrow on Tuesday to help a beleaguered bullpen.

Withrow was drafted with the 20th pick in the 2007 MLB Draft out of Midland Christian High School in Texas.

The Dodgers moved Withrow to the bullpen halfway through last season, and he's fared much better as a reliever than he was as a starter.

It's not good when a former first-round pitcher ends up being a reliever, but a least he has the ability to succeed.

His fastball sits in the mid-90s an has touched as high as 98 MPH. He also boasts a mid-80s slider that gets him a bunch of strikeouts.

Withrow used to have the system's best curveball, but he scrapped it late last season.

The 24-year-old has a 1.93 ERA, a 2.17 FIP and an 11.6 K/9 rate with Triple-A Albuquerque.

Walks have alway been Withrow'a bugaboo. He has a BB/9 of 5.0 in his career (4.6 this year). He'll need to keep that under control (no pun intended) to have success.

The Dodgers also recalled outfielder Alex Castellanos and optioned Justin Sellers back to Albuquerque.

After Brandon League shat the bed again last night, the Dodgers need some kind of change in the bullpen. I'm not saying Withrow is going to be the savior, but it couldn't hurt to give him a shot.

Photo credit: SD Dirk, Flickr

Dodgers hurting and their reluctance to recall Scott Van Slyke is curious

The Dodgers are hurting -- big time. Adrian Gonzalez has been scratched the last couple games, Jerry Hairston needed stitches after tripping over a bag in his hotel room and subsequently hitting his head on a desk. He also came out in the fifth inning of Saturday's game after he felt a "tweak" in his groin.

That, combined with Mark Ellis still having not been placed on the disabled list (hasn't played since April 26) and Hanley Ramirez injuring his hamstring on Friday night -- landing him on the DL -- and the Dodgers are quite the mess.

And that isn't even considering the pitching, which hasn't been that good of late. Clayton Kershaw and Kenley Jansen were nails on Friday night, while Ronald Belisario wasn't. Matt Magill was roughed up to the tune of five runs in 1 1/3 innings -- a bit disappointing after his MLB debut April 27. The bullpen has a couple of guys who probably won't be available (J.P. Howell and Javy Guerra), so Hyun-jin Ryu needs to throw a hell of a game on Sunday.

So, my question is: Why won't the Dodgers recall Scott Van Slyke?

(Photo: Van Slyke is the batter on-deck)

Van Slyke is starting to make a believer out of me (again), as he's posted a .408/.488/.767 triple slash through his first 29 games of the Triple-A season. He's doing nothing but hitting, yet he can't get the call. Instead, the Dodgers need five utility infielders, only one of whom has any pop (Juan Uribe). This team doesn't need guys like Luis Cruz or Justin Sellers, especially after recalling Dee Gordon to take over for the injured Ramirez. And Gordon did as much offensively in one game than Cruz and Sellers have done the entire season -- combined (not exaggerating as much as one might think).

Sellers has options, and no team in its right mind would place a waiver claim on a guy hitting .095. Cruz could opt for free agency and, for whatever reason, the Dodgers appear afraid of losing him to that. I mean, in what world does a guy with a .095 batting average in 67 plate appearances get to remain on a Major League baseball team?

This team needs pop off the bench. While Van Slyke is strictly a first baseman these days, a spot start every once in a while in a corner outfield spot probably isn't out of the question.

I'd be calling out for Alex Castellanos to be added to the 25-man roster, but he's on the 7-day DL in Triple-A. Both he and Van Slyke deserve to be on the team. It isn't like their development would be stunted if they were members of a Major League bench -- both are in their age-26 seasons and likely aren't going to get any better at this point, though, Van Slyke is trying to prove otherwise.

Van Slyke's improved physique should also be taken into account. He's not the same player he was last year or in previous years. He's trimmed down and it appears to be helping him.

He isn't going to save the team, but there isn't much harm in having a guy like that available off the bench.

Either that or recall Yasiel Puig (I'm only half-kidding).

Photo credit: Dustin Nosler, Feelin' Kinda Blue

Podcast: 'Dugout Blues' episode 33 - First week, Kershaw, Kemp, prospects

On this episode of "Dugout Blues," Jared Massey (Dodger Diamond) and talk about the first week of Dodger baseball while being distracted by the Dodgers' eventual 9-3 loss in San Diego.

We fawn over Clayton Kershaw, as he was dominant in his second start of the season. We also talk about the other two good starting pitchers in Hyun-Jin Ryu and Zack Greinke.

We try to figure out what's wrong with Matt Kemp and the Dodger offense. Aside from Carl Crawford, Mark Ellis and Adrian Gonzalez, everyone can stand to hit a lot better -- especially guys named Luis Cruz, Justin Sellers and Juan Uribe.

Next up is the minor-league portion of the podcast, led by the tantalizing Yasiel Puig, (or "Pew-ig/Poo-ig," according to some), Scott Van Slyke, Alex Castellanos, Paul Hoenecke and a plethora of pitchers who had good first weeks, such as Zach Lee, Onelki Garcia, Ross Stripling, Zachary Bird and more. The Dodgers have some good pitching depth all around the minors but, like the Major League team, the offense is lagging behind (aside from the fellas named above).

Corey Seager is off to a slow start, but there's little reason to be concerned. Others are off to slow starts, but it is just a four- or five-game sample at this point.

Finally, we close with some good listener questions.

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Look for new episodes of "Dugout Blues" every Wednesday. Don't forget to subscribe to the podcast and review us on iTunes. We want to make this the best podcast we can so we're always looking for suggestions and ways to improve.

If you have questions you'd like us to answer or certain topics/players you want to hear more about, feel free to email us (ladugout@gmail.com or feelinkindablue@gmail.com) or send us messages on Twitter (@Dodger_Diamond or @FeelinKindaBlue). You can also "Like" the podcast on Facebook. We always welcome audience participation.

Image credit: Joe Martin

Albuquerque Isotopes announce 2013 roster, led by Alex Castellanos, Matt Magill and some flamethrowers

The final Dodger full-season minor-league affiliate to announce its roster is the Albuquerque Isotopes of the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League. Generally an offensive powerhouse, the 'Topes are lacking in hitting talent this season. That, coupled with the humidor, could lead to fewer runs scored than expected.

• Great Lakes Loons opening day roster
• Rancho Cucamonga Quakes opening day roster
• Chattanooga Lookouts opening day roster

Castellanos

The offense is led by returning 'Topes Alex Castellanos and Scott Van Slyke. After that, it gets pretty thin.

Dee Gordon will be the team's starting shortstop, while Elian Herrera should start at second base. Either spring-training-sensation-not-named Yasiel Puig Brian Barden or Rusty Ryal should start at third base. The outfield will boast a couple rangy players in Matt Angle and Nick Buss.

I hit on just 13 of 25 players from my February prediction -- the worst of any minor-league level.

Roster

Catchers
Steve Cilladi (DL)
Jesus Flores
Matt Wallach

Gordon

Infielders
Alfredo Amezaga
Brian Barden
Dee Gordon
Elian Herrera
Osvaldo Martinez (DL)
Rusty Ryal
Scott Van Slyke

Outfielders
Matt Angle
Nick Buss
Alex Castellanos
Tony Gwynn

Fife

Starting pitchers
Stephen Fife
Javy Guerra
Blake Johnson
Matt Magill
Sean White

Relief pitchers
Geison Aguasviva
Steve Ames
Angel Castro
Peter Moylan
Red Patterson
Shawn Tolleson
Josh Wall
Chris Withrow

For the first time in a long time, there is actually some pitching talent on this squad.

Magill is the best pitcher in town, while Fife has actually proven to be a potentially serviceable pitcher. Guerra is in the rotation to get stretch into a long-reliever.

The bullpen has some hard-throwing youngsters and a cagey Aussie veteran in Moylan. Ames, Tolleson, Wall and Withrow could be a potent and lethal 'pen, provided the starters pitch well enough so the quartet isn't burned out. Either Tolleson or Wall should close with Ames and Withrow setting up. And Feelin' Kinda Blue favorite Patterson should be the team's other long reliever.

There are some players missing. Jeremy Moore, who was expected to be on the roster, is back in Arizona at extended spring training. Nick Evans, Dallas McPherson and Michael Antonini were are released prior to the season. And Kevin Gregg, who didn't have an out clause in his contract, was released on Wednesday after Paco Rodriguez was chosen to begin the season with the Dodgers instead of him, something I wrote about over at Yahoo! Sports.

My best guess at a lineup

Gordon SS
Gwynn CF
Castellanos RF/LF
Van Slyke 1B/DH
Barden 3B
Herrera 2B
Flores C
Ryal DH/1B
Angle/Buss LF/RF

Wall

Really, not a whole lot to be excited about. Guys like Blake Smith or, gulp, Puig could get the call to Triple-A, but that wouldn't come until midseason. They could get some reinforcements in the form of Moore and Brian Cavazos-Galvez, if there are enough injuries.

Here's hoping Magill doesn't get shelled, Castellanos continues to hit and the power relievers post a lot of strikeouts. It's the PCL, so anything can happen. The 'Topes could challenge for a playoff spot, but there are a lot of good prospects in the league, making other teams stronger.

Photo credits: Dustin Nosler, Feelin' Kinda Blue

Zack Greinke solid in final spring start, Rodriguez and Sellers make team

This hasn't been the greatest month for Zack Greinke leading up to the start of the 2013 season, but Saturday night was the most encouraging sight from him since he signed his mega contract in the winter.

Greinke made his final spring training start on Saturday against Angels and fared pretty well. It was just his second start in the last 29 days, so it's understandable if he's still a little rusty.

• Greinke's line: 5 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 5 K, 81 pitches, 45 strikes

The final line is definitely acceptable for a spring training outing, even if the strike percentage could have been better (55.5 percent), but that's being nitpicky at this point.

It was just 18 days ago we were concerned about Greinke's elbow. And while he had a poor first outing on Monday, his outing in Anaheim was just fine.

Greinke hit as high as 95 MPH on the radar gun (according to MLB Gameday) with his fastball and threw his other three pitches consistently.

Greinke makes his regular season Dodger debut on Friday against the Pirates. If anyone would like to donate about $200, I can be in attendance for that game as I'm heading to Southern California this weekend for a wedding (not mine). If not, I guess I'll just have to listen to it on the radio.

As long as he's healthy, Greinke is going to be great this season. He's the perfect complement to Clayton Kershaw.

Roster cuts made, 25-man almost finalized

In somewhat of a surprise, Alex Castellanos and Kevin Gregg were among 11 players reassigned to minor-league camp after Saturday night's game.

Alfredo Amezaga, Stephen Fife, Elian Herrera, Peter Moylan, Josh Wall and Matt Wallach were the others sent down immediately after the game. The rest of the names will be announced by tomorrow's 12 p.m. deadline.

It was also announced the Dodgers will have four players begin the season on the disabled list: Chad Billingsley (short-term stay), Scott Elbert, Ted Lilly and Hanley Ramirez.

This means Paco Rodriguez and Justin Sellers have made the opening day roster. Both are surprising, but Rodriguez is refreshing while Sellers is head-scratching.

The Dodgers, barring a trade, will have three lefties in the bullpen (J.P. Howell and Chris Capuano) to start the season. Rodriguez has shown the ability to get right-handers out just was well as left-handers. His fastball/slider/cutter combination is nasty.

Sellers, who I'm sure was on the chopping block after his Jan. 19 arrest in West Sacramento, made the team due to Ramirez's injury. While Sellers is a good defender, he isn't much with the bat -- like Luis Cruz, but worse.

There's chatter Sellers could play more shortstop than Cruz until Ramirez comes back, thus effectively benching Juan Uribe. If Sellers making this team means less Uribe, then I should be much happier.

The roster is at 28 players. There could be a trade tomorrow (Aaron Harang or Capuano) or some outright releases (Matt Guerrier). It remains to be seen.

Garcia takes the loss

Dodger reliever prospect Yimi Garcia pitched the bottom of the ninth inning tonight and, except for the walk-off home run he allowed to Angels' catcher Hank Conger, looked pretty good.

I have admittedly never seen him pitch, so it was a nice little treat.

Garcia featured a fastball that clocked in at 89-92 MPH, a changeup in the mid-80s and a slider at 79-81 MPH. He struck out the first two batters he faced (both swinging) -- Brendan Harris on a nice, sharp slider and an 89 MPH fastball to Kole Calhoun.

After a ball to Hank Conger, Garcia left an 89 MPH fastball out and over the plate and Conger deposited it into the right-center field seats, ending the game.

Garcia made it to High-A Rancho Cucamonga last year, and I suspect he'll begin the 2013 season there. If so, I should be able to see him in person.

Photo credits: Dustin Nosler, Feelin' Kinda Blue

Dodgers option Yasiel Puig to Double-A Chattanooga, aka the right choice

The Dodgers optioned spring training sensation Yasiel Puig to Double-A Chattanooga on Tuesday. This was the correct move.

Puig made it a much tougher decision than originally expected with his fantastic play this spring. He'll join many top Dodger prospects in Tennessee like -- at least for a little while.

This also means Carl Crawford, despite my skepticism, should be ready for opening day.

As exciting as it would be for Puig to be in the majors, he needs a little more seasoning in the minors. After Alex Castellanos, who could (should) benefit from the transaction, Puig should be first on the minor-league depth chart.

It's a move that makes all the sense in the world, but it's still a touch disappointing.

The Dodgers haven't had a player create as much buzz as Puig in a long time. Matt Kemp is an exciting player, but even during is shoulda-been-MVP campaign of 2011, he never had the mystique surrounding him Puig does. Manny Ramirez brought a buzz with him until his performance-enhancing drug suspension, but Puig is doing all this as a 22-year-old.

But Puig does have some facets of his game that need refinement, specifically his baserunning and defense. There's no better place to do that than in the Southern League.

Puig's time will be here sooner than originally expected. If Crawford or Andre Ethier struggle immensely, Puig will get the call. If any starting outfielder gets hurt for an extended period of time, Puig will get the call. Hopefully, neither scenario happens.

The Dodgers and the fanbase will soon be inundated with Puig. That will be a great day, especially if he proves his spring was no fluke while in Chattanooga.

Dee Gordon was also optioned to the minors, as he'll begin the 2013 campaign with the Isotopes at Triple-A Albuquerque.

Photo credit: Dustin Nosler, Feelin' Kinda Blue

Dodgers have some tough decisions to make about opening day roster

The Dodgers have 38 players remaining in Major League camp after releasing reliever Mark Lowe on Sunday. The number has to be down to 25 by the time the Dodgers open the season on April 1 at Dodger Stadium against the Giants.

There are clearly locks for the roster (Kemp, Kershaw, et al), and some who weren't locks just as recently as a couple weeks ago (Uribe).

There are still some decisions to make regarding the first 25 -- the biggest of which being Yasiel Puig.

There are also decisions to be made about the bullpen and the Dodgers' excess starting pitchers.

The locks

Catcher (2/2)
A.J. Ellis
Tim Federowicz

Infield (5/5)
Luis Cruz
Mark Ellis
Adrian Gonzalez
Nick Punto 
Hanley Ramirez (DL)
Juan Uribe

Outfield (4/6)
Andre Ethier
Jerry Hairston
Matt Kemp
Skip Schumaker

Starting pitcher (5/5)
Josh Beckett
Chad Billingsley
Zack Greinke
Clayton Kershaw
Ted Lilly (DL)
Hyun-Jin Ryu

Relief pitcher (5/7)
Ronald Belisario
Chris Capuano
J.P. Howell
Kenley Jansen
Brandon League

There are only a few spots still up for contention. A couple spots in the bullpen and a couple spots on the bench.

With Ramirez's injury, Uribe (unfortunately) becomes a lock, as Cruz will move to shortstop from third base. My preference is for Dee Gordon to get a shot at shortstop and to keep Cruz at third while Ramirez is out. That doesn't appear too likely at this point.

The big question comes in the outfield. While all signs point to Carl Crawford being ready for April 1, I'm still not convinced. Oh, and there's the Puig question. When spring training started, there was virtually no chance of Puig breaking camp with the team. Now, it's a legitimate question, even if folks in the know think he's destined for Double-A.

Also, Alex Castellanos was vying for the 25th-man spot before Puig took off. He could still get a shot, especially if Crawford is ready on time.

My guess: Crawford and Castellanos make the team.

In the bullpen, the Dodgers have a couple spots to fill. At this point, I have Capuano making the 'pen as a long reliever, making Howell the only situational lefty available. That gives Paco Rodriguez a better chance to make the club. Scott Elbert isn't fully recovered from his two winter surgeries, also giving Rodriguez a good shot of making the club.

As for non-roster invitees, Kevin Gregg and Peter Moylan are the only two remaining. The Dodgers seem to have a non-roster invitee -- usually a reliever -- make the squad.

• Gregg's line: 9 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 HR 0 BB, 4 K
• Moylan's line: 7 1/3 IP, 10 H, 7 R, 3 HR, 4 BB, 8 K

If we're going off spring training stats (which we shouldn't), Gregg is the clear winner. However, Moylan has better numbers in the regular season. But Moylan has thrown just 13 1/3 innings in the last two season -- combined. I don't think both pitchers make the squad, though.

The Dodgers could do something surprising and go with Josh Wall, who has struck out 12 batters in 10 1/3 spring innings. But that probably won't happen.

My guess: Rodriguez and Moylan get the nod to fill out the bullpen.

As for Aaron Harang, I really think he's traded or designated for assignment by opening day. He seems like the worst fit of the Dodgers' surplus of starters to pitch out of the bullpen.

Here's hoping a team steps up and makes a play for Harang. even a fringy reliever prospect would be just fine.

Portion of Ramirez's salary to be paid by WBC

Buster Olney and Ken Rosenthal reported Sunday the World Baseball Classic will be responsible for Hanley Ramirez's salary while he's on the disabled list.

Once player misses 30 days, salary for missed time covered in full. Also, he can be covered if injured during WBC, then suffers re-injury.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) March 25, 2013

For the pre-2012 Dodgers, this would have been great. For a team projected to have a $230-plus million payroll, it doesn't really matter much. It's at least a "nice" consolation for losing Ramirez for two months.

First mock draft of 2013

John Sickels at Minor League Ball posted his first 2013 mock draft on Saturday. Sickels alternated picks with Matt Garrioch, a writer fro the site. Garrioch had the Dodgers' pick and mocked RHP Dustin Driver from Wenatchee High School (Wash.) at No. 19.

"The Dodgers have went a different direction under their new ownership but due to the new basic agreement spending restrictions, I don't see it changing their philosophy in the draft. Jon Crawford could join his Florida teammate quickly if they would go that direction. Ryan Boldt is a name worth considering here as is currently injured Austin Wilson. Reese McGuire could be an intriguing pick here, as they really have no catching depth but that could actually hinder him if they would rush him just because they lack depth and that urge would be there. I think I will go with a local high school arm in Dustin Driver, RHP, California HS"

Driver is 6'2, 210 pounds with a solid fastball for a prep pitcher (91-93 MPH, touches 94). Some view him as a relief prospect because he lacks consistent secondary offerings. But he fits the Logan White profile: high schooler with projectable frame and a quality fastball. Here's a video of him at a high school showcase in San Diego.

The draft is less than three months away. Looking forward to it.

Photo credits: Dustin Nosler, Feelin' Kinda Blue

Podcast: 'Dugout Blues' episode 26 - Dodgers, Kershaw, Puig, Harang

On this episode of "Dugout Blues," Jared Massey (Dodger Diamond) and I look at Dodger spring training up to this point.

Clayton Kershaw is off to a slow start in Spring Training. Is it something to be concerned about? Yasiel Puig is the talk of camp and fans are clamoring for his inclusion on the 25-man roster. It isn't going to happen, even if Carl Crawford begins the season on the disabled list.

Aaron Harang is drawing the interest of a couple teams. Will the Dodgers trade him?

Jared talks about his new domain name and the beginning of his Top 20 prospect write-ups. First up are Julio Urias and Garrett Gould.

And we close with listener questions a listener question. Of this trio, who breaks camp with the team? Brian Barden, Alex Castellanos or Jeremy Moore. The answer might surprise you (it won't).

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Look for new episodes of "Dugout Blues" every Wednesday. Don't forget to subscribe to the podcast and review us on iTunes. We want to make this the best podcast we can so we're always looking for suggestions and ways to improve.

If you have questions you'd like us to answer or certain topics/players you want to hear more about, feel free to email us (ladugout@gmail.com or feelinkindablue@gmail.com) or send us messages on Twitter (@LADugout or @FeelinKindaBlue). You can also "Like" the podcast on Facebook. We always welcome audience participation.

Image credit: Joe Martin

Hit tool: Examining the best hitters in the Dodgers' farm system

When I think of batting average, guys like Wade Boggs, Rod Carew and Tony Gwynn come to mind. When I think of a keen eye at the plate, Barry Bonds, Babe Ruth and Ted Williams are tops. When talking about the hit tool, these players encompass the best of both worlds.

Many players make it to the majors based on the strength of their hit tool, even if defense isn't their specialty.

The Dodgers probably don't have any of those kind of players in their system, as those Hall of Fame players aren't the norm. But there are some quality bats in the system -- something that couldn't be said even a year or two ago.

Yasiel Puig could be on this list, but his hit tool is just average at this point. But he sure is impressing in Spring Training so far.


Previous entries in this series

• Power
• Fastball
• Speed
• Slider

These are some of the prospects who have an above-average or better hit tool.

Alex Castellanos
- Castellanos isn't much of a defender, but he's hit the cover off the ball since being acquired by the Dodgers. He posted some ridiculous numbers in Triple-A last season: .328/.420/.590 with 17 home runs in 94 games. While Pacific Coast League numbers aren't to be trusted, Castellanos' bat appears to be the real deal. His improved walk rate helps him make this list. The video below gives me hope for Castellanos' long-term potential. He might not be a regular, but he's going to be a major leaguer based on the strength of his hit tool.




Joc Pederson
- I tabbed Pederson as the system's best hitter in my Top 50, and rightfully so. Pederson hit .313 with a .396 on-base percentage in 2012, which earned him Dodger Minor League Player of the Year honors. His smooth stroke from the left side and bat speed to be a regular, and his plate discipline is quite good for a player of his age. Chattanooga will be a nice test for the soon-to-be-21-year-old.

Jeremy Rathjen
- Rathjen fell to the 11th round after a knee injury, but he proved he could handle the bat well in his debut season. He hit .324 for Ogden with a team-leading 48 walks and .443 on-base percentage. He'll need to prove his debut season wasn't just a product of being an older prospect in rookie league ball. He has enough bat speed for that to happen.

Corey Seager
- Baseball America rated Seager as the system's best hitter for average, and it's hard to disagree. His debut season in Ogden was pretty impressive: .309/.383/.520. His walk rate is surprisingly advanced for an 18-year-old in his first professional season. Keith Law fancies Seager as a potential All-Star third baseman, and that doesn't come without a top-flight bat.



Jesus Valdez
- Valdez is a prospect who hasn't received much acclaim in his career, but he possesses a good hit tool. He posted a .400-plus on-base percentage as a 20-year-old in the Pioneer League -- no easy feat. He also hit for some pop (30 extra base hits) and drew a fair amount of walks (31 in 322 plate appearances). He isn't as good as guys like Seager and Castellanos, but he could take a big step forward in 2013 and establish himself as having one of the better bats in the system.