Jun 04 2006 06:36 PM
Edited 4 time(s), most recently on Jun 05 2006 12:05 AM
KTE - Los Angeles Dodgers
Though much has been made of the Dodgers recent Red Soxinization at the hands of owner and Bostonian Frank McCourt (the rumor DodgerBlues.com uncovered about the creation of the Blue Monster in LA has thus far been unfounded), the surging Dodgers of the last few weeks have been riding the backs of as many former Las Vegas 51’s and reclamation projects off the free agent scrap heap as they have former Boston Red Sox.
The Blue Monster
Let’s first take a look at a snapshot of the Dodger offense on Opening Day versus the club today, two and a half months later (this thing’s already changed like 8 times since I started it).
| OPENING DAY | TODAY |
| 1B Olmedo Saenz | 1B Nomar Garciaparra |
| 2B Jeff Kent | 2B Willy Aybar / Ramon Martinez |
| 3B Bill Mueller | 3B Saenz / Joel Guzman |
| SS Rafael Furcal | SS Rafael Furcal |
| C Dioner Navarro | C Russell Martin |
| LF Jose Cruz, Jr. | LF Cruz, Jr. / Andre Ethier |
| CF Jason Repko | CF Kenny Lofton / Matt Kemp |
| RF JD Drew | RF JD Drew |
That’s a lot of damn new people.
Dodge that trolley!
Okay, it doesn’t take a rocket surgeon to know that injuries can hurt a ballclub. But for the Dodgers, they’ve had a slew of them and have so far mastered the injury merry-go-round, getting guys healthy who have catapulted them (Nomar, Furcal), avoiding injuries to key guys who are injury-prone (Drew, Brad Penny), and sustaining or even improving at positions where injuries have hit (Martin, Aaron Sele, and the kids in the outfield).
From Opening Day to now, the Dodgers have had trips to the DL for Eric Gagne, Nomar Garciaparra, Kenny Lofton, Jeff Kent, Bill Mueller, Dioner Navarro, Yhency Brazoban, and more, devastating for most teams, and yet here in early June, they miraculously find themselves just 1.5 games out of first, and on pace for over 90 wins, and somehow leading the NL in hits, runs, RBI, BA, and OBP. The pitching has been almost as good, as they’re so far third-best in ERA and OPS allowed, and fourth-best in WHIP.
So who the hell are all these people kicking ass for the Dodgers then?
Good question. Despite pleas from the fans (and even Vin Scully!) to Frank McCourt to put names back on the uniforms, the Dodgers have resisted, and with all the personnel movement this year, some names on the back of the uni’s would be pretty helpful. With this in mind, I’ll give you a run-down of the new-look Dodgers with an MBTN-inspired uniform number trailing each name.
The bottom of the rotation has changed a few times, with Seo (#26) and the Benson Bunch’s own Odalis Perez (#45) taking turns being ineffective and getting demoted to the pen. The Dodgers have also plugged in vet Aaron Sele (# 41), with surprisingly positive results so far (3-0, 2.20 ERA).
The offense and the bully have seen the most new faces, with the offense being invaded and energized by some of the best prospects in the Dodger organization.
Leading the way is their most recent call-up, outfielder Matt Kemp (#27). Kemp is a freakish 22-year old, 6’4”, 230-pound, right-hand hitting monster, who hit 18 combined homers two years ago at different A-ball levels, hit .306/.349/.569 with 27 homers last year at high-A Vero Beach, and was hitting .327 with 7 homers, 34 RBI, and 11 steals at AA Jacksonville before the Dodgers called him up last week. He’s homered 3 times so far in 20 AB’s, and is currently sitting pretty with a 1.191 OPS. Look out for this kid.
Another young outfielder the Dodgers feature is Andre Ethier (#15), formerly one of Oakland’s top prospects. He was acquired in the offseason for Mad Milt Bradley. Ethier, a sweet-swinging lefty, already has 7 multi-hit games (including a 5-hit performance against Anaheim on May 19), and is currently hitting .300/.367/.525.
At one point Dioner Navarro (#30) was regarded as one of the top catching prospects in baseball (maybe partly because he was Yankee property), but the Dodgers always held converted third baseman Russell Martin (# 55) in just as high a regard. Navarro underwhelmed the Dodgers with his defense and finally hit the DL with a wrist injury, and LA inserted the 23-year old Martin in behind the dish. The pitchers (and Grady Little) love his defensive ability and game-calling, and he’s flourished offensively, hitting .268/.358/.427. Dioner may be looking at AAA Vegas, baby, when he gets healthy.
Shifting from third to second for the injured and mustachioed Jeff Kent (# 12), is switch-hitting, 23-year old Dominican Willy Aybar (# 49). Not unlike Edgy's 11-year old boy-wonder Edgar Alfonzo, prospect website The Baseball Cube reports that Aybar stole 32 bases as a 13-year old 10 long years ago for the Tigers in the Gulf Coast League! Now as a grizzled veteran in his early 20’s, Aybar’s filled in admirably (.318/.430/.470) for the injured Bill Mueller (# 14) at third. Willy’s the brother of the Angels Erick Aybar, and may or may not be related to former Met and fellow Dominican Manny Aybar.
Maybe the most heralded of the bunch is 21-year old Joel Guzman (# 64). Baseball Cube lists him at 6’4”, 190-lbs and Dodgers.com lists him as 6’6”, 250-lbs! BA ranked him as the Dodgers #1 prospect in 2005 as a shortstop, but with Rafael Furcal (# 15) signed long-term, the Dodgers have moved him to the outfield, though against the Mets, he should see time at third base. Two years ago he hit a total of 23 homers splitting time at A and AA ball, and hit .287/.351/.475 with 16 homers, 75 RBI, and 31 doubles in 442 AB’s at AA Jacksonville last season. This year for the AAA 51’s, he was hitting .291 with 6 homers.
I’ve babbled enough about the “O”, so you get just a quick overview of the remade bullpen.
Eric Gagne (# 38) – Just back off the DL. Reassumes his closer position.
Danys Baez (#10) – Was inconsistent as interim closer when Gagne was hurt. Returns to the set-up guy role.
Takashi Saito (# 44) – 36-year old Japanese righty (in the Iriki mold minus the steroids), has been fantastic for LA, going 3-2, 3 saves, 2.33 ERA, pitching 27 IP, giving up only 18 hits, and putting up an impressive 33/7 K/BB ratio.
The bully is rounded out by the hard-throwing, aristocratically named Jonathan Broxton (# 51) (0.93 ERA, 26 K, 9 BB in 19.1 IP), the left-handed and ridiculously numbered Joe Beimel (# 97) (2-0, 1.89 ERA), and Korean lefty Hong-Chih Kuo (#56) was just called up replacing former Met Tim Hamulack (# 47).
The Pitching Matchups
Monday, June 5, 10:10 ET
Alay Soler
vs.
Brett Tomko (# 35, 5-3, 4.38 ERA)
Tomko’s the 33-year old ex- Red, Giant, Padre, and some other teams, too, I’m sure. He’s been rocked his last 3 starts, so hopefully we can pile on.
...
Tuesday, June 6, 10:10 ET
Pedro Martinez
vs.
Derek Lowe (#23, 4-3, 2.68 ERA)
A couple of 2004 World Champion Red Sox going against one another. Lowe’s having a great year so far and has allowed just one earned run in his last 20 IP.
...
Wednesday, June 7, 10:10 ET
Tom Glavine
vs.
Odalis Perez (# 45, 4-1, 6.05 ERA)
Seo’s sucking has allowed Odalis to escape from his banished bullpen role and get back into the rotation. His ERA was over 3 runs lower in the pen (6.90 versus 3.12), but he was still hit hard giving up 13 hits in just 8.2 IP. We need to pound his rotund ass Wednesday night.
(If anyone knows how to find current Met numbers against these guys, I’d like to see them).
The Ex-Men
Ex-Mets: Just Jae.
Ex-Dodgers: Pedro (for Delino DeShields, ouch!), Duaner, Lo Duca, and Valentin.
Ex-Sox: Bradford, Pedro, Darren Oliver, Cliff Floyd, Derek Lowe, Aaron Sele, and of course, Nomar. That’s a wicked lot of ex-Sox!
Who’s Hot
Nomar Effing Garciaparra. .369/.428/.624. 6 homers, 18 doubles, 38 RBI. Nomar’s back and has been a steal at $6 mils this year. Penny’s been dominant, but we’ll fortunately miss him. Matt Kemp’s homered in 3 straight games, and Rafael Furcal hit .311 with 14 RBI in May to bring his BA up to .260.
Who’s Not
Seo’s had his ass handed to him his last 3 outings and JD Drew went from .306/.404/.506 in April to .256/.356/.478 in May.
The “Everybody Hurts” Injury Report
Jeff Kent, 15-day DL (wrist)
Bill Mueller, 15-day DL (knee)
Jason Repko, 15-day DL (ankle)
Dioner Navarro, 15-day DL (wrist)
Ricky Ledee, 15-day DL (groin)
Cesar Izturis, 60-day DL (elbow)
Yhency Brazoban, 60-day DL (elbow)
Required Reading to KTE courtesy of people who really KTE
Dodger Thoughts – Informative and insightful.
Dodger Blues – One of my favorite baseball sites on the net.
apmorris will be representing the CPF on Tuesday and Wednesday, ambler will probably be out there, too, if he’s still a CA guy, and I’m going to try to sneak my 4-year old Godson away from his Angel-loving family to show him some National League ball.
LGM!
Edit: Missed a couple of guys in my table, fixed some links, etc.