Let's check out a couple of Dodgers-related tidbits..
- Dylan Hernandez of the Los Angeles Times tweets that even though the Dodgers signed Vicente Padilla at a bargain price, GM Ned Colletti says that the club probably could not afford another starting pitcher. It sounds as though Jon Garland and Braden Looper just lost a suitor.
- Unsurprisingly, Buster Olney of ESPN (via Twitter) hears that the Dodgers, as well as the Rangers, may not have the money needed to sign Ben Sheets. Olney also tweets that the Mets and the A's might be in the best position to be aggressive, based on the agents' perception of which teams are still spending.
Bargain? Really? You didn’t get an ace, you got a number four starter for over five million. That’s not a bargain in my book.
For what other crappy pitchers are signing for(penny, Pinerio) it is. Do you think that Penny will be worth 2m more than Padilla( in real money, not fangraphs?) I don’t. Honestly they got a good price based on the market
How much did Penny get last year?
Like I mentioned before, I think it makes no sense for the Rangers and Sheets to unite. If you’re the Rangers, I don’t get why you’d want your 1-2 punch to be two incredibly brittle pitchers. And if you’re Sheets, a career NL pitcher coming off a major injury, I don’t know why you would want to try and build up your value by moving to the AL and playing in a tiny ball park that is not at all suited to your strengths.I’m praying the Mets make the move they’re supposed to make and just give Sheets whatever he wants as long as it’s a 1 year deal.
I was thinking the same thing. If he’s trying to re-establish himself, why go to a hitter’s park?
because he is a strikeout pitcher and keeps a very low homerun rate threwout his career so the park isnt really a factor. Also, the milwaukee park he played in was also a hitters-neutralish park so its not like its a shock to him.
This is such a silly stance.
You know why? BECAUSE ITS AN UPGRADE! It improves the team. Thats a pretty simple reason.
If sheets were another harden in that he only goes 5 innings there would be some logic in avoiding him, as if your entire rotation is 5 innings starters it will destroy your bullpen. But he isn’t!
You can’t COUNT on Sheets and Harden to carry you for 400 innings, but the Rangers wouldn’t be doing that. They’d be hoping they do, but prepared with mccarthy/holland/feliz/harrison/hurley etc. in reserve. For the first time in… a long time they have some starting pitching depth to cover for injuries.
Sheets would be a good pickup for the rangers if they can get the money, which is doubtful.
As for Sheets choosing texas – well, he lives here, we have his ex pitching coach, the defense is well above average… there are some pitchers who just can’t handle the heat that should avoid texas, but other than that now that the defense is improved the park is just not THAT big of a factor, and besides as long as other teams saw that he was healthy and throwing well they’d still want him the next year even if his ERA was inflated half a run or whatever.
Too bad it’s rarely ever that simple. Gary Matthews, Jr. would be an improvement to the Padres outfield, so why haven’t they traded for him yet? I mean, it would be an upgrade. So simple, right?Your entire argument is contingent on Sheets coming back and not just being healthy, but also being the vintage Sheets when he does take the mound. Just because he impressed in a throwing session doesn’t mean that, even if he’s healthy, you can lock him in for 6 2/3 IP every time out. You still don’t know if you’re getting vintage Sheets. Signing Sheets is a risk for anyone who signs him, but it’s an especially huge risk for them as their current ace is also made out of paper mache.There’s no doubt that Sheets prefers Texas to New York, but what Sheets wants to accomplish this year is to prove that he’s healthy and put up the best numbers possible so that he can land a lucrative long term deal down the line. And he has a much better chance of doing that in the NL, in a pitcher’s park, then he would in the AL, in a hitters park. Just ask Smoltz and Penny, two career NL pitchers coming off injuries who debuted in the AL last season, pitched terribly, but then immediately started pitching well upon returning to the NL.
“Too bad it’s rarely ever that simple. Gary Matthews, Jr. would be an improvement to the Padres outfield, so why haven’t they traded for him yet? I mean, it would be an upgrade. So simple, right?”
Gary Matthews Jr. is awful, and I specifically said the Rangers probably can’t afford Sheets. Its simple that they could use him, not simple that they will get him. You suggested they shouldn’t even want him.
“Your entire argument is contingent on Sheets coming back and not just being healthy, but also being the vintage Sheets when he does take the mound. Just because he impressed in a throwing session doesn’t mean that, even if he’s healthy, you can lock him in for 6 2/3 IP every time out. You still don’t know if you’re getting vintage Sheets. Signing Sheets is a risk for anyone who signs him, but it’s an especially huge risk for them as their current ace is also made out of paper mache.”
It is? I thought i specifically said the Rangers have the depth to absorb the injury if it happened, but would be signing him in the hope he could return to form to increase their upside if he did stay healthy. The only way it would kill them is if he comes back throwing 4 ip a game all year, and there is no logical reason to think that. Hes come back from the DL many times in his career without such effects, and this injury is not one that should effect him in such a way. He could get injured again in the first week, but as it stands when he does pitch theres no reason to think it will be in really short outings.
Hell you want the mets to sign him at whatever cost it takes, doesn’t sound like you are counting on this nearly useless version showing up.
And he didn’t want to prove his health and earn a new contract last year? You know, when he signed a 2 year deal with Texas prior to failing the physical, needing surgery and missing the year? He is clearly opening his horizons a bit this offseason, smart given the rangers have little money to spend, but all evidence points to him at least seriously considering Texas if they can make a legitimate offer, which they probably can’t. .
Makes sense coming from an Angel fan who wants him as far from the AL West as possible. Am I far off?
About 2,500 miles off.
I like that you replied to that instead of the counter-argument.
Didn’t see it. Replied.
“I’m praying the Mets make the move they’re supposed to make and just give Sheets whatever he wants”
right..
Joel Pineiro is already signed…
Omar,Jeffy, or whoever the hell is running the team, make Sheets a Met NOW
He’d be a great fit, I just hope Omar doesn’t offer him a two or three year deal. (Very possible!)
If sheets is looking to build up value for 1 season, going to a pitchers park in oakland, could be a boost of his stats.
The A’s are not playing for this year. Unless they think he’s going to help the development of their younger pitchers, there is no reason to sign him to a high risk contract, when the rumors say he wants a player option for a second year. If he holds up, he leaves for a long term deal in FA.
Unless they think they can flip him at the deadline if he pitches well. But that’s too big of a risk in my opinion.
The A’s may not be playing for this year, but this year could very well play for them.
Hear me out: The Angels took a big step backwards this offseason. The Rangers are looking just as good as last year, but who knows if their pitching holds up. The Mariners are easily the most improved, but they’re still lacking that middle of the order bat and who’s starting after Felix and Lee?
Big if’s here, but if Duke’s healthy and Gio Gonzalez takes a big step, the A’s could have the best starting rotation in the West. Combine that with a plus defender at every position and the A’s could pitch and field their way to an AL West crown.
Regardless, the AL West is going to be a dogfight in 2010.
Huge if’s, xub. Don’t forget the “if clauses” for the other three starters.
I dont think there is a point in getting Braden Looper because you already have Kuroda( they post similar numbers) I think the Dodgers should go for Ben Sheets but I dont think they can afford it.
Kuroda is a far better pitcher than Looper. They don’t put up similar numbers at all; Kuroda dwarfs him. Even Looper’s best season ever isn’t as good as either of Kuroda’s two MLB seasons.
I’m not sure where that comparison comes from, but it’s an insult to Kuroda’s ability.
ALL ABT the GIANTS AND ROCKIES
I’m not saying there isnt any risk, but A’s wouldnt not be playing for this season yet they made probably the best offers to scutaro, beltre and then signing crisp (they couldve just as easily given their other OF’s a shot. So they are attempting to be competitive at least. If sheets is looking for 1 yr, they have the cash to burn. Like you said, he could also be a trade chip in july (if healthy)
I think the Dodger offseason is over.
ben sheets if healthy in citi field with the mets he could go 17-6 200 SO 3.60 ERA
acually no 3.20 ERA
I’d bet he could do that for a lot of teams.
If he could ever stay healthy…asking him for 30 starts is quite a lot. Although I really think that if the Mets don’t sign him and an innings eater, they won’t have any shot at making the playoffs this season. They’re rotation is really bad right now after Santana.
just sign sheets already minaya
Our pitching will be our downfall and Manny will not be that good unless he is back on the roids.
Starting pitching is definitely an issue (I still think we have the best bullpen in baseball, though). We have a decent enough collection of #3-#5 guys, but whether Kershaw and Billingsley can achieve their full potential this season and put up the numbers you need out of a #1 and #2 is questionable.But I’m not so worried about Manny. Contract year. He knows his performance this season will be the difference between getting another $10m+/year or just hoping to be picked up by somebody for a couple million like Jim Thome and Johnny Damon right now.
honestly, dodgers fans really dont have much to worry about right now. People are acting like all the teams in the NL West drastically improved, not the case. D-backs will have Webb back, but that still puts them at borderline .500 team. Rox are about the same team as last year. Giants gained one or 2 decent bats, both of which are injury risks. Dodgers had the best record last year in the NL so its not like they really had to do a lot to improve.
I mostly agree with you, but there are a number of things that concern me.
1.) Randy Wolf was a very important part of last year’s success, even if his W-L record was less than impressive. It is unlikely that Vicente Padilla comes close to replacing his production.
2.) The collection of pitchers the Dodgers used in the #5 spot last season (McDonald, Stults, Milton, Schmidt, Haeger, Padilla, Garland) actually had a winning record. It is hard for me to believe we will be quite as lucky this time around.
3.) Kuroda had 3 separate injuries that sidelined him parts of last season. If he isn’t healthy, our rotation suddenly looks a *lot* weaker. Kershaw – Billingsley – Padilla – Haeger – Stults/Elbert really worries me.
… all that being said, I expect Kemp and Ethier to continue to improve, Loney, Martin and Furcal to rebound from what were down years for them, and Manny to put up contract year numbers. I think Blake may decline slightly (he’s at that age), and DeWitt/Carroll probably won’t match Hudson/Belliard’s production, but it won’t be that far off. The offense should be fine. And our bullpen will be the best in baseball, again.
I’m somewhat worried about the Diamondbacks because they had a number of players (Young, Drew, C. Jackson) that had down years last year, in addition to the loss of Webb. Remember, entering the 2009 season they were generally considered the team most likely to challenge us for the division. If Young, Drew, C. Jackson can rebound, Reynolds and Upton keep doing their thing, the additions of Kelly Johnson and LaRoche give them a formidable lineup. Drew – Jackson – Upton – Reynolds – LaRoche – Young – Montero – Johnson is far better than what the Giants have put together. Then consider Webb and Haren are being joined by Edwin Jackson (and ex-Dodgers always kill us), and I think they’ll compete.
Honestly I think the Rockies played over their heads last season, the Giants still have no offense, but the Diamondbacks will surprise.
From all the reports that I have been reading.. The Mariners seem like the best bet for Sheet as they have money left after signing Felix. Also he would be coming into a good role as a third slot in the rotation after both felix and cliff lee.. besides if the mariners are building around a team with small ball, defense and pitching.. this signing would make sense to add depth to the rotation… here is what Jerry Crasnick wrote ..
“The Mariners make sense as a Sheets dark horse, for several reasons: (1) GM Jack Zduriencik likes to make bold, stealth moves; (2) he spent a lot of years in Milwaukee as scouting director while Sheets was an elite starter; and (3) once you get past Cliff Lee and Felix Hernandez, the Seattle rotation consists of Ryan Rowland-Smith, Ian Snell and someone from the Doug Fister, Garrett Olson, Jason Vargas contingent.
Other than the cushy National League, why would Sheets want to play for NYM? The ghetto up the road? the balls hot weather? the traffic? A 3rd place finish? Oh no, I got it: the sharp looking uniforms.
Oh right, he’d much rather play in a hitters park in absurdly hot weather for a team that hasn’t made the playoffs in a decade.
Kershaw, Bills, Kuroda, Padilla, Elbert/one of ten options..
I like it, Kuroda is in a contract year and he needs to show up this year. Hes a beast when hes healthy.
I agree that is a solid rotation. The fact also remains that the Dodgers have arguably the best bullpen and pitching coach in the game.
Dodgers are in great shape. Kershaw and Billingsley will develop into Koufax and Drysdale type situation. The back of the rotation will be solid. Russell and Loney will step up. Furcal will return to form as will Ramírez. Ethier and Kemp will continue their ascent to becoming great players and one of them will be MVP. Young players will compete well in Spring Training and there will be a surprise or two. Xavier Paul is ready to assume the fourth outfield position and become the heir apparent to start in the outfield next year. if Dewit comes out of spring training strong and gets innings in as a starter he will gain confidence and his offensive capability will blossom while playing a solid (albeit less than spectacular) second base.This is a good young team that will continue to improve.