Podcast: 'Dugout Blues' episode 64 - Uribe, Howell, scouts, top prospects

On this episode of "Dugout Blues," Jared Massey (Dodger Diamond) and I recap the uneventful Winter Meetings and other happenings in Dodger land.

The Dodgers didn't do anything at the meetings, but they re-signed Juan Uribe and J.P. Howell in the last four days -- both of which were solid deals.

The Dodgers also bolsted their scouting department by adding six new scouts, while elevating two guys -- Josh Bard and Aaron Sele -- to professional scouts. Two of the new hires include Peter Bergeron and Ron Mahay.

Jared released his Top 55 prospects list for 2014. I grill him a little, but not as much as I could have. Joc Pederson tops his list. I'll be releasing my Top 50 prospects in January.

Episode dedications
Jared and Dustin: Paul Lo Duca

As usual, we close with Q&A. They were a little lighter than in episodes past, but it's the holiday season after all.

We'll probably continue to 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

The Dodgers have no switch-hitters for the first time since 1986

I was looking at the Dodgers' Opening Day lineup and noticed there were no switch-hitters in it. Then I looked at the roster and didn't see any. That got me thinking: when was the last time the Dodgers...

a) had no switch-hitters start Opening Day?
and
b) had no switch-hitters on the roster, period?

The answer to a) is 1996. The answer to b) is 1986 (courtesy of Baseball-Reference).

The only switch-hitter on the 2012 Dodgers' 25-man roster is Mike MacDougal. But does that really count? Barely, I suppose.

In recent years, the switch-hitting role has been filled by Rafael Furcal (right). Before him (pre-2006), guys like Jose Cruz, Jose Valentin and Milton Bradley filled that role. The Dodgers had a glut of switch-hitters.

We get back to the early part of the century and guys like Cesar Izturis, Todd Hundley and Chad Kreuter were the some of the switch-hitters. Devon White, Jose Vizcaino and Wilton Guerrero (Corky!) filled the role in the late 1990s.

We come to 1996. The Dodgers opened the season in the Astrodome against the Houston Astros. Ramon Martinez was on the bump for the Dodgers taking on Shane Reynolds. The Dodgers' starting lineup looked like this:

Delino DeShields 2B
Brett Butler CF
Mike Piazza C
Eric Karros 1B
Raul Mondesi RF
Mike Blowers 3B
Todd Hollandsworth LF
Greg Gagne SS
Martinez P

Roger Cedeno, Chad Fonville and Guerrero were the only switch-hitters on the club the entire season, and Guerrero wasn't on the team until September.

Fonville pinch-ran for DeShields in the sixth ining and Cedeno, a 21-year-old top prospect at the time, came in as part of a double-switch in the seventh inning.

That kept the streak of switch-hitters playing for the Dodgers alive. You then have to go all the way back to 1986 to find the Dodgers a switch-hitterless team.

I just thought it was an interesting tidbit.

Will the Dodgers have any switch-hitters this season? That remains to be seen.

Gorman Erickson (right) is the Dodger closest switch-hitting prospect to the majors, but he's not the closest player to the majors.

Fellow catcher Josh Bard is playing for the Isotopes and could see time if there are significant injuries. Infielder Elian Herrera, who had all of six at-bats this spring, is also with the 'Topes.

Infielder Lance Zawadzki is another switch-hitter and got 15 at-bats in Spring Training, but he's not even on a Dodger minor-league roster.

So, unless there's a trade acquisition, it's going to take some doing for a "real" switch-hitter to crack the Dodgers' roster this season.

Photo credits
Furcal: SD Dirk, Flickr
Erickson: Dustin Nosler, Feelin' Kinda Blue

Dodgers' roster news as Spring Training comes closer to conclusion

The Dodgers have made a few roster moves this week as the season is set to open on Thursday in San Diego.

Cuts

Josh Bard and Cory Sullivan were released by the Dodgers. Bard was never going to make the team ahead of starter A.J. Ellis and million-dollar man Matt Treanor. There was a tweet during the contract he signed was guaranteed, but that was obviously not the case. Bard was 2-for-18 this spring.

Sullivan, notorious Dodger killer, had a decent spring, but he was a longshot to make the team anyway. I thought he'd end up in Albuquerque, but it isn't exactly a huge blow to a team with some of the most outfield depth in the minor leagues. Sullivan posted a .289/.333/.395 triple slash with one home run, seven RBI and three walks. He'll probably land a minor-league deal elsewhere. Here's hoping he never plays against the Dodgers again, though.

Disabled list

Ted Lilly was placed on the 15-day disabled list due to a stiff neck. Eric Stephen of True Blue L.A. reported if Lilly remains on track, he could make his season debut on April 14 against the Padres.

The move allows the Dodgers to carry one extra bullpen arm because of the team's April 9 off day. It seems it will go with a four-man rotation until Lilly returns. Stephen notes Josh Lindblom and Scott Rice are in the mix. Nathan Eovaldi might get some consideration, but since he doesn't have a rotation spot, he's best suited to begin the season in the minors. If the Dodgers go with Lindblom or Rice, I have a feeling it'll be the latter. Scott Elbert is the team's only left-hander out of the 'pen and they gave John Grabow his release earlier this week.

Adam Kennedy is also a DL candidate after suffering a pulled groin. If the Dodgers do place him on the disabled list, it could be retroactive to March 26, which means, unfortunately, he'd only miss the first series of the season.

Luis Cruz, Josh Fields and Justin Sellers are fighting for reserve roles. The fact Cruz is even being considered reeks of Hector Gimenez last spring. Having said that, he's almost a lock to make it if Kennedy begins on the DL.

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I'm starting a new weekly feature with Jared Massey of L.A. Dugout (formerly of L.A. Dodger Report and L.A. Dodger Talk). We're recording a podcast, "Dugout Blues," that is tentatively scheduled to go up every Monday. We'll talk about everything Dodgers while focusing on the minor league system a bit more than the Major League team.

I'll post links here and we'll get it on iTunes as soon as possible.

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Tango Tiger needs some input on how many games Dodger players will appear in this season in its annual "Community Forecast" feature. It's pretty simple and quick. There are only 18 entries thus far. I submitted mine on Friday.

Mike Petriello made his debut at FanGraphs on Friday, writing about Andre Ethier and how he's primed for a big season. If Ethier's spring is any indication, Petriello is going to look damn good with this article.

Petriello also thinks the Dodgers shouldn't give Ned Colletti his walking papers just yet. I'm inclined to agree. However, keeping him around longer increases his chances of remaining with the team (which are microscopic at this point).

Chad Moriyama links to ESPN LA's Ramona Shelburne and the L.A. Times' Bill Shaikin stating how Frank McCourt won't get any revenue from the parking lots at Dodger Stadium.

"So go back to the stadium and stop whining.

Thanks."

Scott Andes of Lasorda's Lair is counting down the 10 best moments in Dodger Stadium history. The most recent entry, No. 6, is something of which I have fond memories -- and I'm betting most Dodger fans do.

Zach Lee's signature could use some work, writes Greg Zakwin of Plashcke Thy Sweater is Argyle.

And this might be one of my favorite photos of all-time.

Photo credits: brendan-c on Flickr

Dodgers' news - Loney stays, Coco Crisp, non-roster invitees

The Dodgers tendered James Loney a contract on Monday, to no surprise. The light-hitting first baseman is scheduled to make somewhere in the neighborhood of $6 to $7 million.

I had a thought the team might consider non-tendering him, allowing Juan Rivera and Jerry Sands to take over first base duties. The Dodgers signed Tony Gwynn on Monday, so the possibility was there. However, the team would likely have needed another outfielder, despite a bevy of youngsters in the minors. Alas, it didn't happen, but it wouldn't have been the worst move ever made.

It will be nice to see Loney digging throws out of the dirt, though. He's one of the best in the league at doing so.

This leads us to the Dodgers' apparent interest in Coco Crisp.

Why?

Why is this team interested in another light-hitting outfielder? He's basically a more expensive version of Gwynn who's had some past success. Crisp did lead the American League in stolen bases last season with 49 (caught nine times). That's impressive. But coming off a $5.75 million contract, he appears to be out of the Dodgers' price range.

A team could pony up $4 to $5 million for his services.

The Dodgers also invited 15 players to Spring Training as non-roster players:

Jose Ascanio, Jeff Baisley, Josh Bard, Alberto Castillo, Matt Chico, Luis Cruz, Angel Guzman, Wil Ledezma, Shane Lindsay, Fernando Nieve, Scott Rice, Will Savage, Cory Sullivan, Ryan Tucker and Lance Zawadzki.

Some of these names might sound familiar. Rice and Savage both pitched for Double-A Chattanooga last season.

Bard was reported to have a $750,000 contract with the Dodgers during the Winter Meetings, only to find out it was a minor-league deal. Still, it hadn't been confirmed until now.

Guzman, 30, was a former top prospect in the Cubs' organization. He's thrown 157 Major-League innings, compiling a 4.82 ERA, 1.43 WHIP, 4.2 BB/9, 8.6 K/9 and 1.96 K/BB. Not impressive, but there is potential with the nice K/9 rate. But he hasn't pitched in the Majors since 2009.

Ledezma signed earlier this off-season.

Nieve, 29, was a spot-starter/long reliever in his rookie season, but never got on track with the Astros. He last pitched in the Majors in 2010 with the Mets, and it wasn't pretty: 6.00 ERA, 1.40 WHIP, 2.1 HR/9, 4.7 BB/9.

Tucker is a local kid who was a former Marlins' top prospect. He threw five bullpen innings for the American League Champion Texas Rangers last season and didn't do well. At just 25, though, there's still time to see if he can figure things out. I wouldn't hold my breath, though.

This leads me to my favorite signing: Sullivan.

Some of you might remember Sullivan for his days as a Rockie, or Dodger killer.

Literally. His slash numbers against the Dodgers in his career are as follows:

.357/.420/.529

The .357 average is one of the highest against the Dodgers among active players. And if you think those numbers are inflated because of Coors Field, guess again:

.306/.370/.486 -- in 28 career games in Dodger Stadium.

He's also hit three of his 10 career home runs against the Blue -- all in the confines of Chavez Ravine.

Sullivan is the classic scrub who always seems to get his rocks (no pun intended) off against the Dodgers (Brad Hawpe, anyone on the Padres, etc.). It's nice the Dodgers don't have to worry about this guy hurting them -- well, at least from the opposing dugout...

Just kidding. He probably won't see Los Angeles anytime this season. If he does, something terrible has happened in Dodgerland.

Slow Day 2 at Winter Meetings for Dodgers

Compared with Day 1, the Dodgers' second day at the Winter Meetings was slow.

News (a term I use loosely here) just broke the Dodgers are close to signing catcher Josh Bard. Jon Heyman first reported it as a 1-year, $750,000 deal.

Bard is a catcher and the Dodgers had seemingly filled the need by signing Matt Treanor last month.

But here comes Dylan Hernandez to save us all from throwing objects at the wall:

"#Dodgers nearing minor-league deal with Josh Bard."

It's just a minor-league deal, which is just fine in this case. I assume the $750,000 would be if Bard makes the club out of Spring Training.

Bard hit .210/.256/.333 with 2 home runs in 26 games for the Mariners in 2011. He's probably a better option as the backup catcher, but Treanor has that locked up.

This still means A.J. Ellis is the teams' starter -- and rightfully so.

General Manager Ned Colletti also said today he's working on trying to improve the offense via the trade market.

"...(Colletti) is pursuing a trade that would potentially improve the team's offense, specifically against left-handed pitching, adding that after talking to four or five clubs he has zeroed in on a particular player who would fit the club's needs."

It seems the Dodgers already have that guy in Juan Rivera. It also seems like they have a youngster capable of filling that role -- Jerry Sands.

We'll see what happens. It seems like it'd be a minor move, but a move that will be scrutinized (rightfully so) by Dodger bloggers everywhere.