2012 Los Angeles Dodgers Season Review: Outfield

The Dodgers had one of the best-looking outfields in the National League heading into the 2012 season. Despite not having a left fielder, the combination of Matt Kemp and Andre Ethier were tough to beat. After acquiring Carl Crawford, the outfield should be that much better in 2013 and beyond.

Dodger outfielders by the numbers

Left Field
.254/.325/.349
76 R, 34 2B, 4 3B, 6 HR, 52 RBI, 21 SB, 63 BB

Center Field
.275/.340/.449
98 R, 30 2B, 5 3B, 23 HR, 84 RBI, 21 SB, 58 BB

Right Field
.265/.328/.439
86 R, 38 2B, 1 3B, 23 HR, 97 RBI, 3 SB, 52 BB

Individual performers

Bobby Abreu
.246/.361/.344, 3 HR, 19 RBI, 28 R, 15.2 BB%
- Abreu was picked up off waivers in May and got off to a nice start as a Dodger. In his first 33 games, Abreu hit .326/.444/.461 while playing a lot of left field. His next 37 games, however, were forgettable: .178/.267/.222. His poor performance got him designated for assignment. After a brief minor-league stint, he was exclusively a pinch-hitter for the Dodgers in September. Considering what he is at this point in his career, Abreu gave the Dodgers more than people expected.
Grade: C-

Andre Ethier
.284/.351/.460, 20 HR, 89 RBI, 36 2B, 8.1 BB%
- Ethier's season was no surprise. He, as usual, was streaky and his overall numbers reflected that. He started his 2012 on a hot streak, as he hit .327/.384/.566 in his first 52 games. In his next 61 games, he hit .234/.315/.329. He finished the season strong at .304/.364/.522, including eight of his 20 home runs. A couple things to note: Ethier's walk and strikeout rates went in the wrong direction. His walk rate dropped nearly 2.5 percent and his strikeout rate increased nearly 1.5 percent. For a guy heading into his age-31 season, that isn't a good sign. However, his performance earned him a contract extension, which I liked at the time. But unless he figures out left-handed pitching (.222/.276/.330), he's going to be the most expensive platoon man this side of Alex Rodriguez.
Grade: B-

Tony Gwynn
.232/.276/.293, 4 3B, 17 RBI, 13 SB, 5.8 BB%
- Gwynn was signed to a 2-year deal in the winter, and I was a big fan of it. Gwynn also earned praise early in the season for his pinch-hitting. However, after he was asked to step in full-time for Kemp, his offensive ineptitude was exposed. From May 29 through Aug. 5 (his last game in the majors in 2012), he hit just .188/.235/.243. No matter how good his glove is in center field (and it is that good), a triple slash like that won't cut it. He was relegated to Albuquerque for the rest of the season. He's signed for 2013 at $1.15 million, so it'll be interesting to see what the Dodgers do with him.
Grade: D

Elian Herrera
.251/.340/.332, 10 2B, 17 RBI, 26 R, 10.8 BB%
- The man who seemed to come out of nowhere, Herrera, like a lot of other Dodgers, got off to a fast start. He made his Major League debut on May 15. Through June 12, he was hitting .300/.400/.378 while playing primarily second and third base for the team. Again, like a lot of other Dodgers, he struggled after his hot streak: .206/.280/.289. He'll be in the mix for the utility player spot for the team in 2013.
Grade: C-

Matt Kemp
.303/.367.538, 23 HR, 69 RBI, 22 2B, 8.9 BB%
- Kemp, coming off an MVP-caliber season in 2011, struggled with injury. The sad thing is, he got off to an incredible start. Before suffering his first hamstring injury in May, he was hitting .359/.446/.726. Kemp tried to come back too soon, aggravated the same injury and was out for a month. He came back and hit well before he cooled off a bit.  After running into the center field wall in Colorado, he struggled mightily. Kemp had a 20-game stretch where he was downright atrocious (.159/.216/.256). He finished the season strong, though (.367/.406/.867). He had shoulder surgery earlier this month and should be back for Spring Training. Let's just hope the injury doesn't sap his power.
Grade: B

Juan Rivera
.244/.286/.375, 9 HR, 47 RBI, 14 2B, 5.3 BB%
- Rivera was, as expected, pretty awful this season. In fact, he was worse this season for the Dodgers than he was in the 62 games he played for them in 2011. I mean, the man had a negative bWAR (-0.9) and fWAR (-0.8). He wasn't even replacement-level good, yet he played 109 games. That's usually a recipe for disaster. Rivera has a club option for 2013 which, if the Dodgers are smart, they'll decline it
Grade: D- (and that's being generous)

Shane Victorino
.245/.316/.351, 2 HR, 15 RBI, 15 SB, 7.7 BB%
- An ill-advised trade deadline acquisition, Victorino was pretty bad for the Dodgers -- especially since he cost the team Josh Lindblom, Ethan Martin and, to a lesser extent, Stefan Jarrin. Victorino had a career-year in 2011, but came crashing back to earth in 2012. Thank goodness the Dodgers traded for Crawford, or it'd be almost a sure thing Victorino would be back in Blue in 2013.
Grade: D-

The rest

Alex Castellanos, Grade: INC
Jerry Sands, Grade: INC
Scott Van Slyke, Grade: INC

Next up: Infielders

Photo credits: Dustin Nosler, Feelin' Kinda Blue

Dodgers troll Jerry Sands by recalling him for one start

My fondness of Tony Gwynn is no secret. When the Dodgers signed him to a 2-year deal this winter, I was all in favor of it.

But when the Dodgers acquired Shane Victorino from the Phillies, Gwynn's designation was inevitable.

Gwynn still has value to a team. His defense in center field is elite, his speed off the bench is something that's coveted late in games and he's adept at pinch-hitting, as he boasts a career .305/.372/.405 triple slash in the role.

I'm a little surprised he wasn't picked up off waivers by a team in need of a pinch-hitter and defensive stud in center with speed, but he'll play with Albuquerque for the time being.

So, the Dodgers recalled Jerry Sands to take Gwynn's place on the roster. Sands was on fire before being recalled: .476/.500/.952 with six home runs and 21 RBI. Almost everyone thought Sands was being recalled to take the place of James Loney and Juan Rivera at first base -- at least, that's what would have made since.

Instead, Sands started one game and was demoted when Adam Kennedy was activated from the disabled list.

I'm not sure what exactly Sands has done to the Dodgers or the front office, but they aren't giving him a fair shake. He had an eight-game stint earlier this season in which he didn't do much, but he closed last season hitting the ball well. I can accept the fact the roster was too full for him at the start of the season, but what do the Dodgers have to lose in playing Sands in first base everyday?

Nothing. Absolutely nothing. He's an adequate defender at first (Loney is better in that department), but Sands can be as effective -- if not more effective -- than Rivera.

Sands is still just 24 and the Dodgers are unfairly jerking him around. I know I tend to gravitate toward prospects and young players, but to not give a guy who won the organization's Minor League Player of the Year in 2010 is just dumb.

I'm not saying Sands is sure to be the answer at first base, but how are the Dodgers ever going to know if they don't give him a chance to succeed?

If I'm this frustrated, I can only imagine how Sands feels. He goes from top prospect to afterthought in less than two years.

When the alternatives are Loney and Rivera, something like this just doesn't make sense.

Ned Colletti to Sands:


Abreu to Albuquerque

Bobby Abreu, who was designated for assignment after the Victorino trade, accepted an assignment to Triple-A Albuquerque.

Suddenly, the Isotopes' lineup looks like it could be even more stacked with the additions of Abreu, Gwynn and Sands to go with Alex Castellanos, Tim Federowicz and Scott Van Slyke.

Both Abreu and Gwynn will be eligible for the postseason roster, if they're needed.

Photo credit: LWY, Flickr

My 2012 Los Angeles Dodgers MLB Draft big board, plus other news

Richie Shaffer, future Dodger? Kevin Goldstein says no.

Happy MLB Draft day!

The Dodgers choose at No. 18 an No. 51 today, and expect them to choose at least one pitcher with their first two picks.

It's anyone's guess as to who the Dodgers will take. Chad Moriyama has a quick draft preview on his site. The consensus is the Dodgers will nab a high school player with their first pick -- most likely a pitcher.

The name that has been bandied about for the last couple weeks is Ty Hensely. Hensley is a right-hander out of Santa Fe High School in Oklahoma. Jim Callis, Keith Law and Jonathan Mayo all have the Dodgers tabbing Hensley the pick.

Jared Massey said in the most recent episode of 'Dugout Blues' Hensley reminds him of Chad Billingsley (not physically, but the way he pitches).

Hensely has a good low-90s fastball and a power curveball -- the same beginning repertoire as Billingsley, Clayton Kershaw, Chris Withrow and Ethan Martin.

Hensley would be a solid pick and is definitely on my big board.

I probably sound like a broken record, but the Dodgers just need to choose the best player available. If Hensley is that guy, sobeit.

Without further adieu, here's my Dodgers' big board. Take note: I'm including guys who have a shot to be there at No. 18, so players like Mark Appel and Byron Buxton won't be on this list.

My Dodgers' 2012 MLB Draft Big Board

1. 3B Richie Shaffer, Clemson University
2. SS Addison Russell, Pace High School (Florida)
3. 3B Corey Seager, Northwest Carrabus High School (South Carolina)
4. RHP Ty Hensley, Santa Fe High School (Oklahoma)
5. RHP Michael Wacha, Texas A&M
6. 3B/OF Stephen Piscotty, Stanford
7. C/OF/3B Stryker Trahan, Acadiana High School (Louisiana)
8. LHP Matt Smoral, Solon High School (Ohio)
9. RHP Lucas Sims, Brookwood High School (Georgia)
10. 3B/1B/RHP Joey Gallo, Bishop Gorman High School (Nevada)

Some notes on the big board

• I'm obviously leaning position player, but I won't be upset one bit if the Dodgers come away with a good SP prospect.
• Russell is a bat-first prospect, but has shown he might be able to stick at shortstop. Shortstop has evolved from an all-glove/no-hit position to a position that values offense. If he doesn't pan out at short, he should be able to make the move to the hot corner. Would be a high-ceiling pick in my eyes.
• Wacha is viewed as a potential Top 12 prospect, but FanGraphs and Kevin Goldstein had him slipping to the Dodgers at No. 18.
• Gallo is a big-time power prospect, but he has a lot of swing-and-miss in his swing. Teams view him as a power-hitting third baseman or flamethrowing right-handed pitcher. Sounds like Martin, no?

Massey and I discussed in the podcast, the absolute wild card is Lucas Giolito from Harvard-Westlake High School in Studio City, Calif.

Giolito might have the highest ceiling of any player in this draft. However, injury concerns (sprained UCL, might ultimately need Tommy John) have dropped him on many teams' draft boards. If he's there at No. 18, I could definitely see Logan White pulling the trigger on him.

The latest from Mayo:

"Lucas Giolito remains a huge wild card. There’s been a lot of conjecture about him going somewhere in the middle of the first round, but I don’t have a firm feel from anyone where he’s going to go. One team that picks in the middle of the round said that Giolito priced himself out from their slot. The assigned values on picks 11-20 start at $2.625 million for No. 11 and go down to $1.85 million at No. 20. So someone would have to get creative."

Yeah, that's another thing. Giolito has a commitment to UCLA and could easily go there if he doesn't get the kind of bonus he's looking for if a team in the teens drafts him. I've seen him mocked to Toronto a lot, which holds the No. 17 pick.

If Giolito is there at No. 18, despite what I said in the podcast about the Dodgers not necessarily having the luxury of taking a chance on a guy like this, I'd like to see him be the pick ... if they can get him signed.

If the Dodgers end up with any of the 11 names mentioned above, I'd be happy. And so should Dodger fans, even if they select another prep pitcher.

Some names to keep an eye on at No. 51

• RHP J.O. Berrios, Papa Juan XIII High School (Puerto Rico)
• 3B/RHP Carson Kelly, Westview High School (Oregon)
• C Peter O'Brien, University of Miami (FL)
• RHP Duane Underwood, Pope High School (Georgia)
• LHP Hunter Virant, Camarillo High School (California)
• RHP Walker Weickel, Olympia High School (Florida)
• OF Jesse Winker*, Olympia High School (Florida)

*- Brother of Joseph Winker (28th-rounder last year), who is with the Great Lakes Loons

Roster moves

Juan Rivera was activated from the disabled list today and Scott Van Slyke was optioned back to Triple-A Albuquerque.

At least Van Slyke will get consistent playing time. He's been slumping since hitting that mammoth pinch-hit home run against St. Louis a couple weeks ago.

This just in (12:40 p.m.): Shawn Tolleson was promoted from Triple-A Albuquerque to replace Javy Guerra. Guerra went on the 15-day disabled list with right knee inflamation.

To make room for Tolleson on the 40-man roster, Matt Guerrier was transferred to the 60-day DL.

Oh happy day.

News from the front office

From the good news department, and Ken Rosenthal's latest column:

"Dodgers scouts are telling their rival counterparts that new club president Stan Kasten told his front office, 'Get what you need and send me the bill.'

Kasten said he wouldn’t go that far, but added, 'If that's the word on the street, I kind of like that. I want fans to understand we’re going to be aggressive – aggressive, but not reckless.'"

Kevin Youkilis, anyone?

Seeing the Quakes live, again


I'll be in attendance on Tuesday and Wednesday for the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes' annual visit to Stockton to play the Ports. Jon Michael Redding and Zach Lee (!) are scheduled to pitch (by my account), so that'll be cool.

Follow me on Twitter for updates and photos from the game. I'll definitely have some posts about it, too.

Photo credit: Courtesy of Clemson University Sports Information

Dodgers make offer to Roy Oswalt, Lilly's shoulder an obvious concern

This is not the first time I've written about Roy Oswalt and the Dodgers. In 2010, the Dodgers were looking to upgrade the rotation and Oswalt's name frequently came up. Now, nearly two years later, Oswalt and the Dodgers are connected again.

Tim Brown of Yahoo Sports tweeted this earlier today:

"The Dodgers have made an offer to Roy Oswalt. Rangers, Oswalt's likely preference, still in mix, among other clubs."

No word on what the offer might be, but Oswalt was reportedly asking for a prorated salary of $7.5 million for the rest of the season. The Dodgers also reportedly said Oswalt's demands were excessive.

Roy Oswalt, future Dodger?

So, why the need for another starting pitcher? When the news broke yesterday of the Dodgers' interest in Oswalt, it made me scratch my head.

The only way an Oswalt deal makes sense is if Ted Lilly's should injury is deemed to be serious. He went on the disabled list today and Michael Antonini was recalled. That doesn't preclude Nathan Eovaldi from taking Lilly's spot in the rotation on Tuesday, as another two roster moves will need to be made -- a spot cleared for Eovaldi and a spot cleared for Matt Kemp.

Well, the first move has been made: Antonini was literally just optioned back to Albuquerque by the Dodgers. The next presumable move, not announced until tomorrow, is Eovaldi officially being promoted.

Next, one of the two right-handed hitting corner OF/1B Scott Van Slyke or Jerry Sands will be demoted. At this point, I have no idea which one. It doesn't matter much because whoever doesn't go back to Triple-A on Tuesday will later in the week when Juan Rivera is activated. I'll just guess Sands is the odd man out tomorrow.

But back to Oswalt. He's on the Roger Clemens plan right now: Sit out the first couple months, come back for the remainder of the season and potentially the playoffs while making a pretty penny.

Oswalt is said to prefer a team closer to Mississippi, which the Dodgers certainly are not. The Rangers seem to be the Dodgers' main competition for Oswalt.

If the Dodgers can get Oswalt for a decent price (not because the Dodger ownership can't afford it, mind you), then go for it. Oswalt is better than Aaron Harang and has the ability to be better than Lilly, despite Lilly's fast start (including his most recent appearance).

The Red Sox had checked in on Oswalt earlier in the month and the Phillies, Oswalt's most recent team, will always be in the mix.

The Dodgers obviously feel concerned enough about Lilly's health to make this move, so I'd expect some bad news on that front tomorrow. It's too bad as Lilly had been lights-out this season, despite some strange peripherals.

If the Dodgers can get Oswalt to replace Lilly, then it could be a wash. We'll see what happens.

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My latest piece at ChadMoriyama.com is on Matt Magill and his great performance with the Lookouts thus far. Here's an excerpt:

"By comparison, he outperformed Dodgers top prospect Zach Lee at the same level. Magill bested Lee in ERA, WHIP, H/9, and K/9. Granted, Lee was 19-years-old, but it’s only a one year difference.

Yet, Magill isn’t talked about among the Dodgers best prospects, and I’m just as guilty as the rest. I ranked him No. 11 heading into the 2011 season, but just No. 46 heading into this season. Chad named Magill his 25th-best prospect in the system after a rocky 2011 season with the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes in the notorious California League.

While there, Magill’s hits per nine rate skyrocketed to 10.1, where his previous career high was 9.1 in his debut season in the Gulf Coast League (as an 18-year-old). This season, it’s at 6.4. His home runs per nine rate is at an all-time low — 0.2 — as he’s allowed just one home run in 48 innings so far in 2012."

Photo credit: Matthew Straubmuller, Flickr

Dodgers' news: Hairston for president, Eovaldi to be recalled, rehab update

Jerry Hairston went 5-for-5 today (his first career 5-hit game) and is more than proving his worth to a team like the Dodgers.

Hairston, a .258/.326/.371 hitter coming into the season, is tearing the proverbial cover off the ball, posting a .381/.458/.524 with more extra base hits (six) than strikeouts (five). To put it lightly, the guy has been a Godsend.

Hairston 2012

He spent a couple weeks on the disabled list, forcing the Dodgers to play Adam Kennedy -- a lot -- at third base. Hairston's presence and his ability to keep Kennedy on the bench should be enough to earn him praise from every Dodger fan. But the fact Hairston is playing as well as he is, well, that's just gravy.

I, surprisingly, was somewhat in favor of this deal.

"The former Brewer, National, Padre, Yankee, Red, Ranger, Cub and Oriole hit .270/.344/.383 last season. He'll be a fine utility player, but did the Dodgers really need him?

Probably not. But it was probably one of the best signings of the off-season, which is saying something for a team in desperate need of offense."

Not only has he mashed at the plate, he's played superb defense -- at both second- and third base. At 35 (36 on Tuesday), the guy might be playing the best ball of his career.

Here's hoping he can keep it up. The Dodgers risk playing him to much and diminishing his value, but he's better than the alternatives (Kennedy, Juan Uribe).

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This just in from Steve Dilbeck of the L.A. Times:

"Nathan Eovaldi appears headed back to the Dodgers to make at least one start for left-hander Ted Lilly."

Eovaldi made a surprise relief appearance last night (was slated to start) and struck out all three batters in his one inning of work.

We've seen Eovaldi mishandled like this as recently as last month, and I was not happy about it.

"Still, the Dodgers need to be careful in situations like this. While Eovaldi could ultimately end up a reliever, his value remains -- for the moment -- in the starting rotation. It's best not to mess with his flow or routine. If he were some journeyman pitcher, this wouldn't be a big deal. But he's the Dodgers second- or third-best prospect and limiting his innings because someone on the big league roster might be hurt could wind up hurting Eovaldi in the long run."

Eovaldi promptly struggled in his first two starts after that episode:

• May 2: 4 IP, 7 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 1 BB, 1 K
• May 8: 5 IP, 7 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 2 BB, 6 K

Luckily, the great prospect that Eovaldi is, he figured it out in his previous two starts, allowing just one run in 12 innings of work.

At least it looks like Eovaldi will actually make an appearance this time around, as he was on the 25-man roster for a few days before being sent back to Chattanooga without taking the hill.

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Matt Kemp and Juan Rivera have both homered in their first rehab game with the Albquerque Isotopes. They'll both play one more game there before Kemp is activated Tuesday and Rivera is activated later in the week.

Photo credit: SD Dirk, Flickr

The Isotopes are about to get stronger, courtesy of the Dodgers

The Albuquerque Isotopes are about to get a lot stronger, and it's not necessarily a bad thing for the Dodgers.

Obviously getting the potential league MVP back is always a plus, but it also allows the Dodgers to give the young-ins the appropriate playing time -- in Triple-A.

Matt Kemp and Juan Rivera at set to make rehab appearances there Sunday and Monday, it means a flurry of roster moves are set to take place.

Kemp can come off the disabled list on May 29; Rivera can be activated at any time.

Jerry Hairston is playing his last rehab game there tonight and will likely take the place of Justin Sellers, who's leg will probably cause him to take his obligatory turn on the 15-day DL. At this rate, it seems as if every Dodger position player will spend some time on the DL this season.

Have fun in New Mexico, Scott.

With Kemp and Rivera coming back, the two most likely candidates to pack their bags are Scott Van Slyke and Jerry Sands.

Van Slyke, despite Sunday night's heroics, is 3-for-18 (.167) in his first 11 big league games. Sands is sitting at 4-for-16 (.250) in six games.

It's been nice to see the funky lineups Don Mattingly has to come up with in the wake of these injuries, but guys like Van Slyke and Sands should be playing every day -- no matter what level of professional baseball. Sitting on the bench isn't going to do either of them any good.

Yes, it sucks that Rivera is going to take the spot of a potentially more talented player, but that's what happens when a guy like that is signed to a $4.5 million deal.

The 'Topes have played .500 ball since losing Van Slyke to the Dodgers on May 9. The offense is filled with a bunch of Four-A players (Josh Fields, Jeff Baisley, Luis Cruz) and older, not-so-good prospects (Brian Cavazos-Galvez, Matt Angle, Tyler Henson). Albuquerque should welcome back these two thumpers with open arms.

But it's nice for them -- especially Van Slyke -- to get a taste of the majors in preparation for another assignment or a September call-up.

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My latest piece at Chad Moriyama is on another former Isotope who should be safe from a demotion, for now.

"When Elian Herrera was recalled to the Dodgers more than a week ago, I’m sure almost no one, besides maybe Christopher Jackson of the Albuquerque Examiner, knew who he was.

Now, after eight games, he’s making his mark on an injury-riddled team and he might not be the one taking the first flight back to Albuquerque when the rest of the infield gets healthy (starting potentially with Jerry Hairston, Jr. this weekend). He has a .346/.393/.462 line in those eight games, and while there’s absolutely no way he keeps that kind of production up, he’s off to a nice start in the majors."

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From Ken Gurnick at Dodgers.com: Matt Guerrier has been shut down, which means we get to see more of Todd Coffey. However, it might not be too long as Blake Hawksworth (remember him?) is getting closer to a return.Well, at least he'll pitch against real competition for the first time since last season.

Guerrier is experiencing pain in his elbow, which originally landed him on the DL. Hawksworth is still in Arizona at Camelback Ranch and recovering from two elbow surgeries.

Mark Ellis, poor guy, had another emergency surgery on his leg after it became swollen. The initial prognosis was six weeks, but I'd be shocked if Ellis is back any time before September. Perhaps I'm being pessimistic, but he's gone through a lot for a seemingly innocuous play.

Photo credit: EephusBlue

Time for Jerry Sands to prove to the Dodgers he can still hit

Jerry Sands

Last year at around this time, Jerry Sands was a Dodger for nearly a month after a blazing start at Triple-A.

Fast forward one year: Sands did not make the club out of Spring Training and has obviously been surpassed by the recently recalled Scott Van Slyke.

Sands, 24, came up last season, gave Dodger fans some hope, struggled, was demoted and came back in September and hit well. I even penned a post saying he should have been the Dodgers' starting right fielder for 2012, as his last month of 2011 was promising.

But a poor Spring Training and Ned Colletti's irrational adoration of RBIMachine™ (Juan Rivera) meant Sands was out of luck.

One would expect him to go to Triple-A and rake, as he did to start last season. But he simply hasn't gotten on track.

Sands is at .232/.324/.400 with four home runs for the Isotopes so far this season. The on-base ability is still there, as his 19 walks in 125 at-bats proves. However, he's not hitting the ball well overall.

With Van Slyke's promotion and Alfredo Silverio out for the season after Tommy John surgery (my latest piece at ChadMoriyama.com), now is the time for Sands to remind the Dodgers of his abilities.

The Dodgers have long since been messing with Sands' swing in the minors. Like some right-handed hitters, the hole in Sands' swing was on the inside corner, possibly due to a hitch in his swing. The Dodgers messed with it in Spring Training last year, in Triple-A last year and Spring Training this year. There has to come a time when a team just stops messing with a guy and lets him do what he's done in the past to have success.

A prime example is Edwin Jackson. The Dodgers attempted to change his mechanics during the winter of 2003 (going into his age-20 season). Some speculate it caused his forearm injury, some say Jackson may have already been injured. One thing's for sure: he wasn't he same pitcher he was in the minors or after outdueling Randy Johnson on Jackson's 20th birthday. He was shipped off to Tampa Bay after the 2005 season.

Jackson went onto have some success in Tampa, Detroit, Chicago and St. Louis since leaving the Dodgers -- presumably because those teams didn't mess with his mechanics.

Not every player is going to have picture-perfect mechanics -- on the mound or in the batter's box. Jackson and Sands are two examples of guys who came up through the Dodgers' system. Hell, Mike Piazza didn't have perfect mechanics at the plate (a noticeable hitch), but he ended up being the best hitting catcher of all-time.

(No, I'm not comparing Sands to Piazza).

But while the Dodgers need to stop messing with Sands' swing, Sands also has to take it upon himself to re-establish himself as a legitimate player the Dodgers can turn to for some power. He was my No. 1 prospect heading into last season and he has the ability to be that good. But he has to put in the work to do so (and I'm not saying he hasn't).

It's easy to jump on the "he can't hit away from Albuquerque" bandwagon -- the splits are quite drastic: 1.059 OPS at home, .654 on the road. But to do that would be a disservice to the numbers he put up in 2010 in the Midwest and Southern Leagues: 1.078 OPS with the Loons, .889 with the Lookouts. As a 22-year-old, that's not too shabby.

With Van Slyke passing him on the organizational depth chart, it's a longer road ahead for Sands than it was at this time last year.

Having said all of this, I still think Sands can be successful and potentially bat in the middle of the Dodgers' lineup. However, I wouldn't be at all surprised if he was traded sometime this season to help the Dodgers acquire a legitimate bat. And for that to happen, Sands needs to start hitting to prove he still has value.

Photo credit: LWY, Flickr

Report: Scott Van Slyke to be recalled to the Dodgers

Scott Van Slyke, newest Dodger?

Eric Stephen tweeted some potentially good news just minutes ago for Dodger fans:

"Source: Scott Van Slyke is getting called up to the Dodgers. He was hitting .336/.411/.623 w/ 9 2B & 8 HR in 32 games with @ABQTopes"

Click here to read Stephen's story about it.

Oh happy day.

During last night's game, I tweeted something about Van Slyke:

"This would be a good spot for Scott Van Slyke to pinch hit. Instead, Adam Kennedy is on the bench. #Dodgers"

Well, here's hoping that's the case now -- at least when he's not starting.

Of course the next question is: who is he replacing? Instant "analysis" says Juan Rivera, who came out of last night's game with a leg injury. He sat out a few games earlier this season because of a leg issue. That's the logical (hopeful) choice.

The next is Jerry Hairston, who hurt his hamstring running out an infield single this weekend in Chicago. He hasn't played since Sunday and his disabled list-stint could be retroactive to Monday.

There were concerns on Twitter Matt Kemp might be the one who was DL-bound. He was scratched on Sunday with a tight hamstring (made a pinch-hitting appearance) and came out of the game early on Monday night. However, he's in tonight's starting lineup, so that theory is out the window.

The potential best-case scenario is Kennedy, but the Dodgers would likely need to recall Justin Sellers if Kennedy were designated for assignment. I don't see that happening -- yet.

So, here's hoping Rivera is the guy going on the DL. It'd be nice to witness a Van Slyke-Kemp-Andre Ethier outfield. With the signing of Bobby Abreu, it's likely Van Slyke would play the same role as Rivera -- a right-handed platoon specialist in left field and at first base. As long as he's getting some at-bats, that's fine with me.

I wrote a piece about Van Slyke in February and thought he could be prototypical "late bloomer." He definitely has the pedigree and the power potential the Dodgers desperately need.

Van Slyke might not be the savior of the offense, but it can't hurt to give him a shot.

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And then there's this is from my latest post at Chad Moriyama:

"Player of the Week

Scott Van Slyke – OF/1B

Van Slyke tends to hit in waves, and this week was no exception. He went 7-for-23 (.304) with four home runs, eight RBI, six runs scored, and five walks. His best game came on Thursday, when he went 3-for-5 with two home runs against Oklahoma City. He's up to .330/.406/.626 on the season."

So, his potential call-up is quite timely, especially after posting a 1.032 OPS with the Isotopes.

Photo credit: Mr. Littlehand, Flickr

Grading the 2012 Los Angeles Dodgers off-season

Now that pitchers and catchers are reporting soon and any major transactions will likely wait until the trade deadline, I'll take a brief look at the Dodgers' off-season moves.

Trades

To Baltimore: LHP Dana Eveland
To Los Angeles: LHP Jarret Martin, OF/IF Tyler Henson

- This was a surprising move, as Eveland was arbitration-eligible and the Dodgers had other plans for the starting rotation. Eveland was nothing more than roster fodder, so for the Dodgers to get anything for him -- especially young players -- was rather amazing.
Grade: B

Re-signings/extensions

Andre Ethier - 1 year, $10.95M (avoided arbitration)
- Ethier signed a contract to avoid arbitration -- a contract some thought was a little cheaper than expected. I thought he'd get $12-plus million contract, but coming off knee surgery, he got a little less than that. It's a good number (a tradeable number if necessary) who seems poised to have a comeback season.
Grade: B+

Tony Gwynn - 2 years, $2 million (avoided arbitration)
- I actually really like this deal, as Gwynn is a defensive specialist and good base-stealer. He's the perfect guy for the Dodgers to have coming off the bench. To get him for a million bucks a year, despite the limited resources, is a great deal.
Grade: A

Matt Kemp - 8 years, $160 million
- Yes.
Grade: A+

Clayton Kershaw - 2 years, $19 million (avoided arbitration)
- Yes, part deux.
Grade: A+

James Loney - 1 year, $6.375 million (avoided arbitration)
- This deal is in line with what a lot of people thought he'd get, but it's a bit much for a guy who didn't do much until the last two months of the season. The Dodgers took too long to get into the Prince Fielder bidding that they had to tender Loney a contract. Unless he breaks out in a big way, this could be his last season as a Dodger.
Grade: C-

Mike MacDougal - 1 year, $650,000 ($350,000 buyout)
- I understood MacDougal on minor-league deal last year, but to give a guy with a shiny ERA a million bucks guaranteed is suspect. I don't think there's any way he matches last season's performance.
Grade: D+

Juan Rivera - 1 year, $4.5 million
- When I was drafting my off-season plan, I actually had the Dodgers re-signing Rivera on a 1-year, $4 million deal. At the time, it didn't look so bad. Now, it's terrible, especially since he'll be taking valuable playing time away from Jerry Sands. He was solid for the Dodgers after they acquired him in July, but the re-signing wasn't necessary. At least it's just a 1-year contract.
Grade: C-

Free agent signings

Chris Capuano - 2 years, $10 million
- For the price, this is actually not a horrible signing. The fact that it prevented the Dodgers from re-signing Hiroki Kuroda, however, makes this a poor signing.
Grade: C-

Todd Coffey - 1 year, $1.3 million
- Coffey is a solid reliever and isn't making a lot, but it was a totally unnecessary signing. If there's any one position the Dodgers have quality and surplus at, it's right-handed relief pitchers. This also came after re-signing MacDougal. If I had to choose between the two, I'd choose Coffey easily.
Grade: D

Mark Ellis - 2 years, $8.75 million
- I'm actually not opposed to this deal, as middle infielders -- for whatever reason -- got paid this off-season. Ellis is a great defender at second base -- something the Dodgers haven't had since Alex Cora in 2004. His bat has taken a dive, though. Despite that, he could be the team's No. 2 hitter. Hitting in front of Kemp could benefit him greatly.
Grade: C+

Jerry Hairston - 2 years, $6 million
- The Dodgers needed a utility player, but did they really need to $2.25 million on one this off-season? This was a luxury signing for a team that doesn't have a lot of money to blow on utility players (at least, not right now).
Grade: C

Aaron Harang - 2 years, $12 million
- Like the Capuano deal, this isn't a bad deal. The fact that the Dodgers chose these two instead of Kuroda doesn't sit well with me. If Harang can pitch like he did last season or like he did for a few years with the Reds, this could actually be a decent deal.
Grade: C

Adam Kennedy - 1 year, $800,000
- This is the Dodgers' worst signing of the off-season. There are a hundred different players who could do what Kennedy will do -- and probably do it for cheaper (and possibly better).
Grade: F

Matt Treanor - 1 year, $1 million
- We know Ned Colletti likes his veteran catchers and giving a guy $1 million to be the team's backup catcher is questionable. Treanor has no stick whatsoever, so don't expect anything from him at the plate.
Grade: D

Overall

The Dodgers' off-season started off great, inking Kemp to a long-term deal was priority No. 1. The off-season could have been bookend by nabbing Fielder, but Victor Martinez and his torn ACL prevented that. The Dodgers made a bunch of mediocre signings that could have been made later in the off-season for cheaper. Hopefully off-seasons for the foreseeable future will be a lot more interesting and productive than this.
Grade: C-

Don't count out Dodgers' prospect Scott Van Slyke because of his age

It's easy to overlook prospects because of their age. If a guy hasn't done anything by his age-21 or 22 season, he gets pushed down on prospect lists.

While that's not uncommon or unjustified, sometimes guys don't "get it" until later in their Minor League careers. The Dodgers might have one of those guys.

Ken Gurnick at Dodgers.com wrote a profile on Dodgers' outfield/first base prospect Scott Van Slyke on Tuesday. It's a good read and sheds some light on a couple of interesting facts.

First of all, Scott is the son of former Phillie and Pirate Andy Van Slyke, who was a three-time All-Star and five-time Gold Glove award winner. Baseball is definitely in his genes.

While Andy wasn't the Hall-of-Fame good (.792 career OPS), he was a solid player. He posted an .815 OPS from his age-24 through age-32 seasons and was a good defender in center field.

Scott's development took some time, and this quote from Gurnick's article really stood out:

"'I didn't take baseball seriously enough,' said Van Slyke. 'In high school, I didn't hit extra after practice. I went to a private school (John Burroughs College Prep in St. Louis). I was seeing 75 (mph) on a daily basis. I signed, went to the Gulf Coast League and the first pitch I see is 95. I stepped out of the box and said to myself, 'I've got no chance.' It took me a while.'"

Now, the fact Van Slyke wasn't giving baseball his full attention and/or effort isn't exactly a good thing -- and not totally unexpected from an 18-year-old, but it's interesting -- and refreshing -- to see Van Slyke be so candid about the early part of his professional career.

Van Slyke crushed the Southern League in his second go-round in 2011, posting a .348/.427/.595 triple slash with 20 home runs, 92 RBI and 45 doubles. Another impressive number was his increased walk-rate -- it rose from 7.9 percent in 2010 to 12.3 percent last season.

Surprisingly, Van Slyke didn't exactly embrace his baseball lineage as a young player.

From Gurnick's article:

"'My first three or four years, my Dad tried to help me, but I was a little stubborn and didn't listen to him,' said Scott. 'I had always been a success in high school and thought I knew what I was doing. I listen to him more lately.'"

If Van Slyke didn't change his ways, he probably wasn't going to be long for professional baseball. He didn't break out until his age-22 season (925 plate appearances). His 2009 season (.293/.373/.530) first put the former 25th-rounder on the prospect radar. He regressed in 2010 (.270/.329/.439) before blowing up in 2011. And he has a former Dodger to thank for his success thus far.

Last quote that stood out from Gurnick's article:

"'I guess I didn't realize how hard it was to maintain my swing,' said Van Slyke. 'The last couple of years, I've gotten into a routing, I work better in batting practice. Early on, I just went up and swung and played the game. Getting with Stubbs, I realize how important it is to have a game plan. He just gets my swing and can communicate with me. Next year, I need to be able to change on my own and not rely on a hitting coach. That's one of my goals.'"

So, he's gone from a guy who didn't give full effort and didn't listen to his father to a guy who embraced the coaching staffs and is realizing his potential. That's why I'm not giving up on Van Slyke. He likely isn't the second coming of Dale Murphy, but he could be a solid baseball player with value to a Major League team.

He'll probably begin the season in Albuquerque, but he could make his Major League debut later this season. In fact, I'd be willing to bet he does.

The tall right-hander (6-foot-5) is limited to a corner outfield spot (preferably left field) or first base. With the Dodgers missing out on Prince Fielder, James Loney on his last leg and Andre Ethier (trade bait) and Juan Rivera (not good), there could be room for Van Slyke in Los Angeles sooner, rather than later.

Prince Fielder is ripe for the Dodgers' taking

Here we are on Dec. 29 and one of the biggest (no pun intended) free agents of this off-season is still available.

Prince Fielder has yet to sign, even following Albert Pujols' record contract (I know it isn't the largest contract of all-time, but I'm sure it's record-setting in some way). Recent reports said he might be willing to settle for a 3-year deal, but those were quickly shot down by his agent, Scott Boras.

But why is Fielder really still available? I'm not 100 percent sure, but I'm going to give it my best shot.

Well, teams are obviously concerned with giving a man of his carriage a long-term, big-money deal. But the numbers do not lie. Fielder is one of the game's best power-hitters and is not incapable of hitting left-handed pitching.

Since his first full season in 2008, Fielder, 27, has 228 home runs and a .541 slugging percentage. He also has a .391 on-base percentage in that time. The man is a productive hitter.

His splits against lefties for his career are solid -- .257/.340/.458 -- but he's been much better against them in recent years, including a .943 OPS in 2009 and .822 OPS last season.

Fielder doesn't just mash at Miller Park, either. His career home/road splits are as follows:

Home: .286/.399/.566, 123 HR in 504 games
Road: .279/.381/.515, 107 HR in 494 games

And for all the concerns about his weight, he's yet to play fewer than 157 games in a full season (save his 2005 debut season). That's in the NL, without the designated hitter at first base -- Not many players in the Majors can make that claim, let alone a beefy first baseman.

It appears Fielder is a perfect fit in Los Angeles for a number of reasons:

1. The Dodgers need a power hitter
2. He is good friends with Matt Kemp and Tony Gwynn
3. His home/road splits are not drastic

If the Dodgers have any chance of signing him, it'd be because of No. 2. Having familiar faces in a place where the ownership situation is far from settled could be comforting to Fielder. If he sees Kemp just signed a long-term extension, he might feel better about committing five, six or seven years to the organization.

The Dodgers would obviously have to backload any Fielder contract. As pointed out by Twitter follower senor_penguino, it might not be as difficult as some would expect:

"Backload a 5 yr deal. 13 yr 1 24 yr 2-5. Lets him be a FA @ 32."

2012: $13 million
2013 through 2016: $24 million per season

Editor's note (Dec. 29, 1 p.m.): For a deal to even have a chance, the Dodgers would likely have to add an extra guaranteed year at $24 million, making it a 6-year, $133 million deal. I'd also include a couple option years.

It makes a lot of sense (too much sense to happen, unfortunately). But where do the Dodgers find an extra $13 million in the 2012 payroll? The Dodgers would obviously have to find a taker for James Loney and his estimated $6-to-$7-million contract. Finding a team to take all that money could be a a problem, but the Dodgers could at least shed half of that contract in a trade.

Juan Uribe's $8 million contract for 2012 is an albatross the Dodgers won't be able to rid themselves of, unless Brian Sabean comes calling with nostalgic memories of 2010. Juan Rivera's $4 million deal is looking absolutely horrible right now, especially since none of it is deferred.

Matt Guerrier will make $3.75 million as a mediocre middle reliever -- a role that could have been filled with a non-roster invitee on the veteran's minimum or a young guy making the Major League minimum.

Chad Billingsley's $9 million salary could be moved, but that would just create a hole in the starting rotation.

Ted Lilly's $10.5 million cannot be moved without his permission (full no-trade clause -- thanks Ned!) and the Dodgers don't appear interested in trading Andre Ethier and his estimated $11-to-$13-million deal (arbitration). A 3-4-5 of Kemp-Fielder-Ethier would be the best Dodger trio in a few years.

Despite the ownership issues and the Dodgers having no money to spend on big-name free agents this off-season, it seems past moves have hindered the Dodgers even more. Billingsley's deal was good (still is), but the money from the other deals (save Ethier's) mentioned above could have helped the Dodgers land Fielder with few questions. And the Dodgers likely wouldn't have been any better or worse as a team without Rivera, Uribe, Guerrier and Lilly.

But here we are. It's Dec. 29, one of the best free agents is still available who fills the Dodgers' needs almost perfectly and they are merely an afterthought in the Fielder sweepstakes.

Unless something drastic happens before March, it looks like it could be a long 2012 season.

Dodgers retain Tony Gwynn with 2-year deal

The seemingly never-ending string of Dodger 2-year deals continued today when the team inked Tony Gwynn to a contract worth $2 million.

Tim Brown of Yahoo! Sports reports Gwynn will earn $850,000 in 2012 and $1.15 million in 2013.

I wrote about Gwynn's chances of staying with the Dodgers late last night. I thought the team would be foolish to let him go. Thankfully, they didn't. He's the team's best defensive outfielder and no worse than third-best baserunner/stealer. Oh, and he's Matt Kemp's primary backup in center field.

The contract is quite affordable and tradeable, if the Dodgers absolutely need to move him sometime in the next two years.

One negative to this signing could be Jerry Sands beginning the season in Triple-A. Sands being a part-time player in the Majors isn't going to do him any good, so he'll get regular at-bats with Albuquerque.

I was in favor of the Juan Rivera signing when it happened -- well, I wasn't as outraged as the rest of the Internet -- but now it looks absolutely foolish.

The only ways Sands could break camp with the team is if there are injuries, a trade (Andre Ethier) or the Dodgers decide to non-tender James Loney. Sands would have the inside track to the first base job if that were to happen. That decision is less than four hours away, so stay tuned.

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.

Report: McCourt agrees to sell Dodgers, plus more news

Bill Shakin of the L.A. Times tweeted just minutes ago Frank McCourt agreeed to sell the Dodgers.

"McCourt agrees to sell #Dodgers. Team to be auctioned in bankruptcy court. More soon at http://latimes.com/sports."

So, that's a bit of good news. This, coupled with the report Mark Cuban was interested in purchasing the Dodgers is a good sign. However, I wouldn't get too excited about Cuban just yet. There's still that whole Bud Selig hurdle.

The best thing right now is to hope for a quick sale. The sale will probably impact the Dodgers' ability to land free agents, but the sooner McCourt is gone, the better.

Thank you, Buddha.

#####

The Dodgers are on the verge of re-signing OF/1B Juan Rivera to a 1-year deal with an option for 2013.

I just checked my notes for my "2012 plan" post and saw I had Rivera coming back for on a $4 million, 1-year deal. After seeing the reaction on Twitter, I'm not sure that was the "smart" prediction, but it was right.

I don't mind him coming back. He was decent for the Dodgers and should be a nice platoon partner for Andre Ethier and/or James Loney -- if one or both return.

#####

Congratulations to Ethier, Clayton Kershaw and Matt Kemp for winning 2011 National League Gold Glove awards.

Kershaw was definitely deserving. Kemp, I can see winning. And despite positive advanced defensive metrics, there's no way Ethier should have won. But, here we are.

What sucks is Loney not winning (Joey Votto). I've long since praised Loney's defense. Perhaps next year.

2011 Los Angeles Dodgers off-season preview: Dodger free agents

This is the first of a five-part series in previewing the off-season for the Los Angeles Dodgers. It breaks down as follows:

• Dodgers' free agents
• Arbitration-eligible Dodgers
• Free agent position players
• Free agent pitchers
• Trade targets

Ned Colletti is famous for not offering arbitration to players, so I wouldn't expect Barajas or Kuroda to get an offer. That doesn't mean they won't be back in the fold for 2012.

Dodger free agents

C Rod Barajas (Type B)
3B Casey Blake
RHP Jonathan Broxton
INF Jamey Carroll
RHP Jon Garland
RHP Hiroki Kuroda (Type B)
RHP Mike MacDougal
INF Aaron Miles
RHP Vicente Padilla
OF/1B Juan Rivera

Barajas: He was inexplicably signed to a $3.25 million contract last off-season. He is in a similar position this winter -- a Type-B free agent looking for another contract. Will Ned Colletti be foolish enough to give him anything more than a couple million? At that price, he's worth it to come back. He has pop, but not much else. His defense is average. Abritration: Yes

Blake: His option was not exercised by the Dodgers, so there's almost zero chance he'll be back.

Broxton: This one is tough. On a really cheap deal, he'd be a nice risk-reward option. However, he might be done with the Dodgers and the Dodgers might very well be done with him.

Carroll: When Carroll signed two years ago, it seemed like a throw-away deal. However, Carroll was nothing but solid for the Dodgers. He was a trade candidate in July, but the Dodgers kept him. He'd be a solid re-signing, but the Dodgers probably can fill his spot with someone making the league minimum.

Garland: Like Blake, Garland was not retained and will likely not return to the Dodgers.

Kuroda: He was a hot target at the trade deadline, but he ultimately wanted to stay in Los Angeles. I applaud his loyalty. It seems he's either going to pitch for the Dodgers or not pitch in the Majors at all. My gut tells me he'll be back, but we'll see what happens. Arbitration: Yes, without a doubt

MacDougal: He was brought in as a non-roster invitee and gave the Dodgers more than their money's worth. He's in line for a slight pay raise. I think the Dodgers have enough low-salary relievers to rely on without having to use resources on bringing him back.

Miles: Like MacDougal, Miles was a non-roster invitee and exceeded expectations. Like Carroll, the Dodgers have cheaper options to do what Miles does, but I wouldn't be surprised to see him back.

Padilla: He was supposed to be the bullpen utility guy, but that plan failed. Padilla got hurt and threw just 8 2/3 innings for the Dodgers this season. The Dodgers could bring him back, as he'd be a nice insurance policy for Nathan Eovaldi, the projected No. 5 starter (in October, so take that with a grain of salt).

Rivera: He was a surprise acquisition and did a solid job playing left field, right field and first base. I'd have no problem bringing him back as the fourth outfielder, meaning Jerry Sands would (and should) start.

Conclusion

The Dodgers have a couple of decent free agents and Kuroda. I could easily see three or four guys from this list returning. The Dodgers aren't exactly in a position to break the bank, so retaining much of the talent (a word that I use loosely) from the 2011 team could be a realistic option.

Next up: Arbitration-eligible Dodgers