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

Hanley Ramirez should bat leadoff for the Dodgers in 2013 and beyond

Something was painfully obvious this season: the Dodgers lacked a legitimate leadoff man.

Dee Gordon, coming off a strong rookie campaign, faltered as the leadoff man and struggled with a wrist injury. The other players used in his place -- mainly Mark Ellis, Tony Gwynn and Shane Victorino -- didn't fare much better.

The Dodgers got below-average production out of the leadoff spot in 2012 (.226/.281/.302). That isn't going to cut it with a team that has Matt Kemp and Adrian Gonzalez hitting in the middle of it.

So, it would seem the Dodgers are in need of a leadoff hitter. But they might have the perfect guy to plug into the leadoff spot right now. His name: Hanley Ramirez.

Ramirez was acquired to be a middle-of-the-order bat, but his talents might better utilized hitting atop the Dodgers' order.

Ramirez's best days came as a leadoff man, as he's hit .309/.385/.536 in his career (403 games). Conversely, he's hit .301/.372/.478 in the No. 3 spot in his career (416 games). With Kemp around, however, that isn't going to happen.

There are more numbers that backup the notion of Ramirez leading off.

In his career, he owns a .322/.381/.649 triple slash when leading off a game. The high slugging percentage is due to the 25 leadoff home runs Ramirez has hit in his career. Not Rickey Henderson, but not bad, either. He also owns a .320/.384/.561 triple slash when he's the first batter of an inning.

The man obviously knows what to do in the leadoff spot despite hitting there just 28 times since the start of the 2010 season.

And something else that's overlooked: Ramirez can still run. He's not going to steal 51 bases as he did in 2006 and 2007, but he could easily swipe 25 as the Dodger leadoff man (maybe more). While Gordon has the ability to steal 60 bases, he can't do it if he isn't getting on base.

There's no way of knowing whether Ramirez could replicate his production from his early days, but using guys like Gordon and Ellis in the leadoff spot isn't good enough for the Dodgers' lineup.

A 1-2-3-4 of Ramirez, Carl Crawford, Kemp, Gonzalez could be quite a sight. That doesn't even include Andre Ethier or any potential offseason additions (Chase Headley, please!).

And before you think Crawford could be a legitimate leadoff man, check out his numbers in the No. 1 spot and his numbers leading off the game or an inning. Not good, and nowhere near Ramirez's numbers.

We'll see if the Dodgers have the stones to hit Ramirez leadoff. To me, it's a no-brainer.

Photo credit: SD Dirk, Flickr

Despite Melky Cabrera suspension, the Dodgers still have plenty of work to do

I know the team won't get ahead of itself, but fans certainly will. Just because Melky Cabrera tested positive for a banned substance and was suspended 50 games by Major League Baseball doesn't automatically mean the Dodgers will win the National League West.

Now, it definitely doesn't hurt their chances, but to say the division is locked up is a bit presumptuous.

The Dodgers moved back into first place on Wednesday after a 9-3 win against the Pirates. The Nationals helped out the Dodgers by downing 'Frisco 6-4 earlier in the day.

The new lineup seems to be getting the hang of things. New additions Hanley Ramirez and Shane Victorino are already paying dividends. Ramirez is hitting .308/.382/.436 in 20 games. He also has 21 RBI and 13 runs scored in that time. Victorino, as the leadoff hitter, is hitting .298/.344/.439 with 11 runs scored in 13 games.

Ramirez and Victorino are picking up for Andre Ethier, who's hitting just .257/.304/.311 since Ramirez was acquired on July 25. He has just four extra base hits -- all doubles -- in that time and has just two home runs since June 10.

The Dodgers also have one of the best No. 8 hitters in all of baseball in A.J. Ellis. Far be it from me to figure out why a guy who has a .392 on-base percentage bats that low in the lineup. If anything, it gives the Dodgers a legitimate threat at the bottom of the lineup, even if he does strike out a bit much for my liking (23 percent).

Oh, and there's always that Matt Kemp fella.

Losing Cabrera is a big blow for the Giants. He was hitting .346 while leading the majors in hits. He had been a Godsend for the Giants, which acquired him in the winter for Jonathan Sanchez. However, it's a quite difficult to overcome the loss of a No. 3 hitter, even if he isn't a traditional No. 3 hitter.

The Giants still have Buster Posey, the struggling Hunter Pence and the hobbling Pablo Sandoval. There are a few legitimate hitters remaining. And trio of Matt Cain, Madison Bumgarner and Ryan Vogelsong is going to keep the Giants close. But it's going to be awfully tough for the Giants to make the playoffs.

Despite all that, the Dodgers simply cannot sit back and not take advantage of the situation. Frankly, Wednesday should be the last day this season they are not in sole possession of first place. With their additions and the Giants' loss, the Dodgers should use the opportunity to build their lead in the division. That's what playoff-bound teams do. That's what budding elite teams do. That's what the Dodgers are right now. They need to prove it to themselves and the rest of baseball.

Minor League notes

• Yasiel Puig is 3-for-7 with three stolen bases in his first two California League games.
• Joc Pederson hit a walk-off RBI single on Wednesday. He finished 2-for-5 and is hitting a robust .350/.448/.650 line with 12 home runs since July 1.
• Rubby De La Rosa had a nice outing with the Arizona League Dodgers on Tuesday: 3 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K. He's far too advanced for the league, but it's nice to see him throwing. In fact, Ken Rosenthal tweeted and said he averaged 97 MPH on his fastball during his 42-pitch outing.
• The Lookouts are three games ahead of the Jackson Generals (Mariners) for the second-half division title. If they make the playoffs, it'll be partly due to a filthy bullpen of Steve Ames, Eric Eadington, Red Patterson, Steven Rodriguez and Javier Solano. That's about as good as it gets.

Photo credit: X Wad, Wikimedia Commons

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

Dodgers fail to land starting pitcher at trade deadline

So, the Dodgers' farm system is weaker now than it was just two weeks ago. That was expected. What wasn't expected is the Dodgers would still need a starting pitcher after July 31.

The Dodgers went down to the wire for Ryan Dempster before the Rangers jumped in and snagged him. There were rumors of the Dodgers looking at Jason Vargas as a backup option, but that never came to be.

The Cubs were determined to get Allen Webster, but Ned Colletti stood strong, even if he gave into the Phillies' by giving up Ethan Martin in the Shane Victorino deal.

So, the Dodgers head into August needing a pitcher because Aaron Harang and Chris Capuano aren't pitching as well as they were earlier this season -- especially Capuano.

Cliff Lee's name is being bandied about because there are just two or three teams that could take on his massive contract.

If the Dodgers somehow land Lee in August, that'd be awesome. If they don't, they'd bank on Ted Lilly being healthy and maybe a guy like Webster to fill in. It's not the worst plan, but it certainly isn't ideal.

Rubby De La Rosa could also be an option, but I'd be surprised if he was anything but a reliever coming off Tommy John surgery.

I'll have a full trade deadline recap tonight or tomorrow.

Dodgers trade Lindblom and Martin to Philly for Victorino

Ugh.

Best lede ever, right? Well, this is far from the best trade ever. I'm not upset the Dodgers are close to sending reliever Josh Lindblom and an unknown second player to the Phillies for Shane Victorino.

I don't have time for instant analysis, but I'm not especially in favor of this deal. Victorino is a marginal upgrade at best and the Dodgers still need a big bat. Let's hope there's some deadline magic in Ned Colletti's Blackberry.

Update: Ethan Martin is the other player. I don't like this one bit. Martin had struggled this far in his minor-league career, but he finally seems to be figuring it out. Not sure why the Dodgers felt compelled to include a prospect of his ilk to acquire a rental player in Victorino.

There's no guarantee he remains in the rotation long-term, but his arm is something you don't just "throw in" for a mediocre player like Victorino.

Here's hoping the next "big bat" is still coming because Victorino is not that guy.

Photo credit: wonderwallwoody, Flickr