Brian Dozier, mired in a dreadful slump after a hot first week with the Dodgers, spoke to Bill Plunkett of the Orange County Register about those struggles. Dozier played through a bone bruise in his knee earlier this season, and while he said the knee “feels great” now, he acknowledged that he developed some bad habits at the plate while trying to compensate for it at the time. The 31-year-old Dozier added that he doesn’t believe playing primarily in a platoon capacity has had an adverse impact on him. (The Dodgers’ constant lineup fluctuations based on matchups has been a source of frustration for many of their fans.) Dozier will be a free agent at season’s end, but the .218/.306/.391 slash he’s carrying isn’t likely to do him any favors — particularly when he’ll be heading into his age-32 season next year.
More from the division…
- Brandon Belt underwent an MRI on his ailing knee, but the Giants aren’t planning to shut him down for the remainder of the season, tweets Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle. Belt is considered day-to-day for the time being, but he’ll start more games before season’s end. It’s been a disastrous summer for Belt — and, really, for most of the Giants’ offense — as his production has cratered after soaring to career-best levels in the season’s first half. Belt, 30, posted a ridiculous .307/.403/.547 batting line through June 1 before landing on the disabled list due to a bout of appendicitis. He never seemed to recover his footing after that, as he’s floundered at a miserable .203/.283/.290 pace since returning. Belt also missed a bit more than two weeks due to a hyperextended knee in late July and early August.
- Clay Buchholz, whose season ended yesterday due to a flexor mass strain, tells Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic that he’d love to return to the Diamondbacks, but there have yet to be any discussions about a new contract between the two sides. Piecoro also chatted with Astros third baseman Alex Bregman, whom the Diamondbacks passed over in favor of Dansby Swanson back in the 2015 Draft. Bregman said he was thrilled to go to the Astros with the No. 2 overall pick but admitted that part of him was also “pissed,” because he’d hoped to be the top overall selection in the draft. He also relayed a story from the 2012 draft, when Arizona showed interest in him as a late first-rounder but instead drafted catcher Stryker Trahan. Arizona called him to see if he’d sign as a second-rounder, but Bregman informed the team he planned on attending college at Louisiana State University.
- In a fun Sunday-morning read, Patrick Saunders of the Denver Post walks through a typical day in the life of Rockies manager Bud Black during the team’s pennant race — covering everything from an early radio appearance to lineup planning, pre-game media sessions, in-game decisions and post-game work and rituals. Saunders also chats with catcher Chris Iannetta and lefty Kyle Freeland about Black’s managerial style and his teaching methods. “Buddy has a laid-back style, but even though it’s laid back, I wouldn’t say it’s relaxed,” says Iannetta of Black — his fifth big league manager. “…I think it’s the sign of a good manager when he knows when to be hands-on and when to take his hands off.” It’s obviously an extra-appealing read for Rox fans, though fans of any club will still appreciate the detailed look at the day-to-day operations of a big league skipper.
It would be nice if Belt could play just one year without getting hurt. At this point the Giants should probably just try to get out from under that contract and move one.
None of his injuries tend to be serious, though. 120-130 games of gold glove defense, but a streaky bat. Not worth the contract, but if he moves to NY or MIL or another lefty friendly BP, he will seriously do well. Probably 30-40 homers, because he hits a lot of screamers that die in ATNT.
Please stop with the Belt to the Yankees proposals. They don’t have any want for his salary, besides they can just sign a FA this winter or make a trade for a younger player.
While I’m not advocating a trade for Belt, the FA pickings at first base are slim this year.
That’s why I also mentioned a trade for a young player. Belt comes with a high salary, and a history of being injury prone.
Cereal… yeah, the ONLY way I would consider a trade for Belt is if Ells goes to SF in the deal. I’m not sure I would want it even then.
Lol
This is the problem with Yankee fans. You overvalue your players. This was the same story last off-season with other trade proposals, you claimed that you didn’t need a first baseman because you had Bird, and anytime anyone included Bird in a proposal you would automatically reject it and call it crazy. Just realize that Belt has a much better track record than Voit, and that the Yankees have the money to make something happen. That’s all.
It’s going to happen with Voit. He gets in a slump and you blame Cashman, you trade a mid level prospect for a decent first baseman, you blame Cashman. I’m not saying all Yankee fans are like this, but I’ve seen it happen before and it will happen again.
Steve Pearce is a FA. Nothing wrong at all with using a platoon at the position and pearce generally only makes 5-7m a year, plus gives good production from the right side and decent glove work.
This is nothing against Belt. I just don’t think the Yankees should trade for an injury plagued expensive player on the wrong side of thirty.
There’s plenty they can do for first this winter, besides this guy has been proposing this all season. Gotta wonder why so many Giants fans hate Belt…
My point was, contract aside, Belt would improve the team. It’s just annoying when fans overvalue their teams current state, and get salty at blame the GM afterwards when things don’t work out.
I have no real expectations of Voit. He’s having a good run and I hope it lasts but I don’t think he’s the long term solution. I also believe in Cashman. He traded god awful Chasen Schreve for Voit.
Just admitted
Giants fan
Another terrible contract
J T snow much better players
Both defense and offense
I agree that Belt would be a huge improvement in NYC and really so solidify 1B for the Yanks. But dude, to say the yanks overvalue their players when speaking of the Giants is like the pot calling the kettle…..well u know.
He’ll bat better given he won’t have the pressure of having to hit 3 or 4 in the lineup and having protection, but are you kidding 30-40HR. Comon man
I would’ve been fine with Bregman or Swanson at the time when the DBacks had the top pick, but right now it’s pretty clear who got the best player. Of course, it’s a moot point for Arizona anyways since they traded Dansby to ATL
Dave Roberts ruining another player with his stupid platoons / Lefty – Righty matchups. Dodgers will be 30 yrs and counting as long as he’s in charge.
Dozier was hurt and in an 1-25 slump. Get a clue and stop trolling
LA will not win with Roberts at the helm
With Roberts at the helm they came farther than any Dodger team since 1988. You sound more out of touch than Abe Simpson yelling at a cloud.
I’ve been a Dodgers fan since late 70’s and this guy continually out coached. Like I said he’s a Front Office puppet and nothing more.
You have no proof or real reasons to back it up. Your just rambling on because you dont understand modern baseball
Ok since you seem to know everything about modern (today’s) baseball please explain why Roberts started Darvish in game 7 of WS over Kershaw / Wood and proceed to let the game get out of hand before brining in Kershaw.
He left Darvish in too long but you cant judge everything he will ever do based on that game. Kershaw was on 1 day rest and got lit up in game 5. Dwellig on the world series is pretty ridiculous espically since everyone on the team choked at some point.
1 day rest between games 5 & 7 with a travel day in there. Ya ok
Dozier was equally bad in Minnesota. Fault is squarely on him, not any manager. I’d platoon him too.
The Dodgers have one of the largest and most expensive analytics operations in baseball, but obviously Dave Robert ignores the data when he creates those lineups and makes those matchup decisions. In fact it’s amazing he still has a job, when he so totally fails to implement the FO’s game plan, especially since they weren’t the ones who hired him in the first place.
Oh, wait.
So you are suggesting that DR rather instead should bench him outright then instead of wasting at-bats with Dozier who can’t hit for beans?
BlueSky does not usually even know what he is suggesting. He posted he exact opposite about Roberts the other day now tries to cover himself with the “Oh wait” statement so he can play both sides of the fence.
I did? What interesting idea, though completely false.
I’m guessing you totally missed the ironic point, obvious as it was. Just to keep it simple for you: Roberts is a FO guy. He was hired by them to implement their analytics-driven game plan. If he wasn’t doing that, he’d be gone by now. So if you don’t like the ever-changing lineups, platoons, or pitching match-ups, then don’t hang Roberts from a meat hook, ask Friedman and Zaidi. Not that you’ll ever get an answer.
Here we go.
Sit Belt and have the surgery. No reason to continue playing him under the circumstances. Shaw with Slater to back him up down the stretch.
“The Dodgers’ constant lineup fluctuations based on matchups has been a source of frustration for many of their fans.”
Yet, they’re in 1st place in the middle of September again. Why should a fan care how their fave team wins just as long as they win.