Inside Dodger Baseball

What could go right... and what could go wrong

2012-02-12T10:25:00.004-05:00

With pitchers and catchers on the verge of opening up Spring Training, it's time to start thinking baseball again. Now that the Dodgers have extended Clayton Kershaw for a couple more years, and with no other major player signings coming up, the roster looks to be nearly locked in.

Let's take a look at the projected starting lineup, and what could go right for each of these guys... and what could go wrong as well.

(Coming up soon, a look at the pitching side from the starters and relievers.)

The Lineup

Catcher - A.J. Ellis
Right: Ellis makes the most of finally earning a starting nod, assuming he'll beat out newcomer Matt Treanor. He'll build on his solid September of hitting .323 and give the Dodgers at least something at the bottom of the order.
Wrong: He's a career .262 hitter, and has played in only 87 games over the span of four seasons, a result of being sent up and down numerous times. If he starts the season off slow, it could mean less playing time once again.

First Base - James Loney
Right: It's simple for Loney: he continues to be the hot hitter he was after the All-Star break, when he hit .320. Also, he keeps flashing the great leather he always has.
Wrong: Like I said, it's simple: he goes back to being the lost, powerless hitter he was the first half of the season, when he hit .268 with a mere 16 extra-base hits in 325 at-bats. Ouch.

Second Base - Mark Ellis
Right: The other Ellis provides the same kind of spark that departed veterans Jamey Carroll and Aaron Miles gave at various points the last couple of seasons. He's only two years removed from hitting .291 with the A's. Plus, do you know he's only committed 55 errors in 5,577 total chances? That's pretty awesome.
Wrong: He gives little hitting support at the bottom of the lineup, and become just another mediocre, veteran player.

Shortstop - Dee Gordon
Right: Gordon was one of the most electrifying players in baseball last season, hitting .304 and stealing 24 bases in 56 games. He will learn how to be a better leadoff hitter and provide plenty of excitement on the bases.
Wrong: He goes through a sophomore slump as pitchers adjust to him, and he can't up his OBP from .325 last season. Also, his defense doesn't get any better, as 10 errors in basically 1/3 of the games is way too many.

Third Base - Juan Uribe
Right: Remember Uribe? It's hard to considering he was a complete bust last year. But he goes back to being the clutch hitter he was with the White Sox and Giants, winning a ring with each.
Wrong: While he appears to be completely over his sports hernia that ended his 2010 season prematurely, the injury bug strikes again, and his hitting continues to get worse and worse.

Left Field - Juan Rivera
Right: Rivera came to L.A. for pretty much nothing from Toronto, and proceeded to give a nice spark, hitting .274 with 46 RBIs in 62 games. Now he has a chance to build on that and add a few more long bombs in the middle of the order.
Wrong: He turns into the player who got dropped from the Blue Jays in the first place, and continues to watch his power numbers dwindle.

Center Field - Matt Kemp
Right: Kemp's 50/50 prediction comes true! Well, that may be stretching it, but a season close to 40/40 again, along with more highlight reel walk-offs and diving catches leads to an MVP award.
Wrong: Maturity issues strike again, and his numbers fall like the last time he signed an extension with the Dodgers. Also, his strikeouts only get worse, not better.

Left Field - Andre Ethier
Right: Andre the Giant and Mr. Walk-Off returns from his year-and-a-half absence. He gives Kemp some much-needed support, and creates a great 1-2 punch while finding his power stroke again.
Wrong: Andre the Giant is down for the count, becoming only a singles hitter again. Plus, his negative attitude gets in the way of team chemistry, and he earns his way out of town.

Cy Young Kershaw inks a new deal

2012-02-08T18:31:00.003-05:00

Reigning National League Cy Young Award winner Clayton Kershaw and the Dodgers agreed on a two-year, $19 million deal on Tuesday. The signing prevents arbitration, as Kershaw was seeking $10 million as opposed to the $6.5 million the Dodgers were offering. I'd say Kershaw almost got exactly what he wanted, as well he should.

The deal also signifies what is most likely the last major transaction from Frank McCourt, who had to approve of the deal before he's shown the door in April. As Ned Colletti pointed out, McCourt has extended Kemp for eight years, Kershaw a couple years, and was on the verge of perhaps signing Prince Fielder before the Tigers stepped in.

True, McCourt also ran the once proud Dodgers into a cost-cutting laughingstock, but at least he did something right. Right?

Anyway, this contract reminds me of the one Kemp signed a couple years back. In January of 2010, Kemp signed a two-year, $10.95 million contract. While the '10 season was awful, he obviously rebounded in a tremendous way with his MVP-caliber '11. And he did it all without PED's, unlike the other guy who won the award. Imagine that.

Kershaw has already had his monster season, winning the Cy Young and the NL's pitching Triple Crown. All he has to do now is continue to be the ace that he's already become, and he too will find himself with a phat new deal, ala Kemp. It's hard to judge right now what kind of money he can earn, or if it will be anywhere in Kemp's neighborhood. But with a new owner about to come into town, I'm sure he'll get something nice.

With this deal now sealed and delivered, the focus can squarely move onto Spring Training and new ownership. After an offseason full of signing role players (cost-cutting moves, remember), it'll be fun to see the boys report to Camelback Ranch soon, along with the home stretch of getting a new owner. I'm excited, that's for sure. You should be, too.

Coffey added to the bullpen

2012-02-08T18:22:00.003-05:00

The Dodgers and veteran right-handed reliever Todd Coffey reached a one-year, $1 million deal this past Friday. The deal also includes either an option for 2013 worth $2.5 million, or a buyout for $300,000.

Coffey is coming off a pretty good season with the Nationals. In 69 appearances spread out of 59 2/3 innings last season, he went 5-1 with a 3.62 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, and 46 strikeouts. Over his seven-year career, he has a 4.08 ERA and 1.42 WHIP.

So far, his career looks like it's bounced up and down between a good season and a mediocre one. His numbers are certainly better than with the Brewers in 2010, where he had a 4.76 ERA and 1.41 WHIP. But, he put together a great '09 campaign, tossing a 2.90 ERA and 1.16 WHIP over 83 2/3 innings. So, he's proven he can be effective.

Right now he's just another option in middle relief, joining guys like Matt Guerrier and Mike MacDougal. It's hard to see him cracking the late innings, unless youngsters Javy Guerra and Kenley Jansen stumble, which is entirely possible given their youth. We shall see.

Could Prince Fielder have been a Dodger?

2012-01-26T21:57:00.003-05:00

According to a report from Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com, that would be a yes.

Heyman reported today that the Dodgers were very much the "mystery" team that emerged in the Prince Fielder sweepstakes, making an offer of seven years and $160. There would've been an opt-out clause after four years, in which he could've taken his talents to the American League to DH if his skills declined.

What prevented this deal from happening? One man: Victor Martinez. The second he went down with a torn ACL, the richer Tigers jumped in with a mammoth nine-year, $214 million deal that obviously blew away the competition. Goodbye, LA; hello, Detroit. And who can blame him?

This is obviously an interesting story for a couple of reasons. One, it showed that the Dodgers, despite slashing payroll to around $90 million this season (low for a big-market franchise), were willing to make a play on a major free agent. Frank McCourt gave his blessing for this deal, which was pretty much his only option. Think about it: would he have dumb enough to say no to this and have word get out? Talk about being Public Enemy #1! Even he's not that stupid.

The second interesting part is that Fielder was willing to take this deal and join a team that's not as good as his old one. Matt Kemp is a stud, Andre Ethier could be, and that's about it. I know money talks, but it's not like he didn't have offers from other good teams, such as the Rangers. The arrival of a new owner in April certainly helps in that the future isn't total bleak.

Who know what could have been, as the Tigers now get the mighty slugger. Maybe the Dodgers will be happy in the long run that they didn't get Fielder, as big guys like him have a tendency to break down faster. Still, watching Kemp and Fielder in the middle of the order would have been nasty. Alas, it wasn't meant to be.

And so it goes for the Dodgers yet again.

Kershaw seeking $10 million through arbitration

2012-01-18T19:47:00.003-05:00

As Andre Ethier and James Loney avoided the arbitration process on Tuesday, Clayton Kershaw did not. Coming off his monster season that earned him the NL's Cy Young Award, he has requested $10 million for the 2012 season, while the Dodgers countered with $6.5 million.

What's certain to happen? He'll definitely get a raise from the $500,000 he made last year. Seriously. Think about it: the best pitcher in the National League earned less than hundreds of other players, and nearly all of them weren't nearly as good. My how one year can change things.

It's hard to forget just how awesome Kershaw was last season... but here's a reminder anyway. He went 21-5 with a 2.28 ERA, 0.98 WHIP, and 248 strikeouts in 233 1/3 innings pitched. Plus, he gave Dodger fans a reason to care, even in the dog days of summer when winning was few and far between. He was that good.

So now the question is whether or not he'll get what he wants and earn double-digit millions. I would have to think that would be a yes. Look at the facts: he'll be 24 at the start of the season, he's already won a Cy Young Award, and he's arguably the top lefty in baseball already. I know the Dodgers have this whole ownership issue going on, but is $10 million really that unreasonable? I don't think so.

Here's to hoping that Kershaw gets what he wants this year, and will soon get a long-term contract like Kemp did that will keep him in Dodger blue for years and years. Oh, and another Cy Young would be nice!

No arbitration for Ethier and Loney

2012-01-18T19:27:00.003-05:00

The Dodgers avoided the arbitration process on Tuesday by resigning Andre Ethier and James to one-year deals. Ethier's deal is for $10.95 million, while Loney's is for $6.375 million. Both are raises from last season, as Ethier earned $9.25 million and Loney $4.875 million.

With both men coming off of down seasons last year, it was probably a good thing that neither of them tried to get more through arbitration. It would be hard to picture them making much more than they earned here. It's good for both sides to get this thing over with early.

Ethier matched his batting average from a year ago by hitting .292, but his power numbers dipped for the third straight year. In 2009, he hit 31 homers and 106 RBIs. In 2010, it was down to 23 and 82 as he battled a pinkie injury that derailed his season. Last year, it was down even further to 11 and 62, as a right knee injury ended his season in early September.

Considering the lack of power from everyone not named Matt Kemp last season, Ethier's power slip was even more magnified. When the season was all said and done, it was apparent that he tried to play through the knee pain, but it clearly didn't work. To his credit, he did earn his first career Gold Glove. With a healthier knee this upcoming season, he could be due for a big bounce back.

Loney had probably the strangest season of any Dodger last year. All you really need to do is look at his pre- and post-All-Star stats to see why. Before the break, he hit .268 with a .311 OBP, 4 homers, and 31 RBIs. After the break, he was up to .320 with a .380 OBP, 8 homers, and 34 RBIs. Considering he played in 91 games before the break and 67 after, those numbers become even more amazing.

Combine that second-half surge with the Dodgers' slashing of payroll, and that's why Loney's been brought back. What's never in doubt is his defense, as he's become very reliable at first. What the Dodgers have to hope for is that over-.300 average throughout the year, and not the guy who was hitting .251 in early August.

Assuming Kemp plays like an MVP candidate again, the Dodgers need Ethier and Loney to step up and give much better support if they have any hope of getting into the playoffs. How can that happen? Start with improving against lefties, as Ethier hit .220 and Loney .213. If those numbers are that poor again, you can forget about the Dodgers being a good offensive club.

Kuroda moves on to the Yankees

2012-01-14T15:47:00.003-05:00

If signing Chris Capuano and Aaron Harang didn't make it official, this will: Hiroki Kuroda has agreed to join the Yankees with a one-year, $10 million deal. It's contingent on him passing a physical, which will happen soon.

That, my friends, ends the Kuroda Era in LA.

First, a look back at Kuroda's time in Dodger blue. He pitched four years, collecting 114 starts. His record was subpar at 41-46, but his numbers certainly were not. He finished with a 3.45 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, and 523 strikeouts. Last season was his best one, as despite a 13-16 record, he had a career-best 202 innings, 3.07 ERA, and 161 strikeouts.

I have some mixed feelings on this one. I want to make clear that I am a big Kuroda fan, as he was quietly one of the best pitchers in the majors these last few years. But he was also one of the hottest names to be dealt at the trade deadline this past year, and he exercised his no-trade clause to stay. That was a noble gesture, as he loved pitching in LA, but when it came to resigning in the offseason, they couldn't afford him.

So instead of agreeing to ship off to a contender in the last year of his contract, he stays and denies the Dodgers a chance at a couple of prospects at least. I wasn't too crazy about that then, and I'm even less crazy about it now. What do the Dodgers have to show for his departure? Nothing, thanks to that damn no-trade clause.

Make no mistake, Kuroda will make the Yankees a better team, and he's a definite upgrade over the scrubs they've had in that rotation recently (along with Michael Pineda, who was also acquired). I do think, however, that he'll definitely miss pitching against the Padres and Giants when he's matched up with the Red Sox and Rays. Any pitcher would say that, but I'd be shocked it he puts up a low-3 ERA like he did last year. That's just reality.

In the end, I'm very appreciative for all of Kuroda's efforts the last four seasons. I am disappointed the Dodgers didn't get a chance to build for the future at the trade deadline, though. That does leave a bit of a bad taste in my mouth.

Kemp nabs a GIBBY award

2011-12-18T11:06:00.003-05:00

Congratulations go out to Matt Kemp, who won a GIBBY award (Greatness in Baseball Yearly) for Player of the Year. He beat out a bunch of other studs, such as Jose Bautista, Miguel Cabrera, Jacoby Ellsbury, Curtis Granderson, Albert Pujols, and the synthetic Ryan Braun.

Kemp collected 33.2% of the vote, well ahead Bautista's 19.8%. Votes are from a collection of the fans, media, front-office personnel, and alumni.

The win isn't much of a surprise, as despite the Dodgers finishing well out of the playoff race, Kemp was clearly the top dog in baseball this past year. He was one homer away from joining the prestigious 40/40 club, while still leading the league with 39 homers, 126 RBIs, 115 runs, and 353 total bases. He also finished second in a bunch of other categories, and was the starting center fielder and #3 hitter in the All-Star Game.

The awards have come in waves this offseason, including a Gold Glove, Sliver Slugger, and Hank Aaron. To get a complete list, click on the link above. There's plenty there to keep you busy.

About the only award that alluded him was the NL MVP, as it went to Braun. And as we recently found out, Braun had some help from a little friend. But as Ted Lilly pointed out, Kemp should've won the award to begin with. How right he is.

Kemp recently signed an eight-year, $160 million extension, and is the clear face of the franchise for many years to come.

Gwynn is back for two more years

2011-12-15T20:40:00.003-05:00

The Dodgers had a deadline decision to make on Tony Gwynn. Either let him walk and hope to pick up another outfielder with more offense, or bring him back for his defensive value.

In the end, defense won out, and it's a good thing.

Gwynn was resigned to a two-year, $2 million contract on Monday. In addition, they tendered contracts to reigning Gold Glove winner Andre Ethier, James Loney, and some guy named Clayton Kershaw. I don't know about you, but I really hope they don't regret this Kershaw signing. Seems pretty risky to me.

Anyway, Gwynn will slide in as the fourth outfielder behind Matt Kemp, Juan Rivera, and Ethier. Barring another outfielder being brought in, I can definitely see Gwynn getting some starts as well, especially if Rivera struggles or Ethier isn't fully healthy.

His biggest role, however, will be as a late-inning defensive replacement, a role he played splendidly last season. Who can forget those diving catches he made to seal the deal and get a win? Certainly not the players on the mound. Stick him in left field next to two Gold Glovers, and that's one tough D to beat.

His offensive numbers showed much improvement as well. He went from a putrid .204 with the Padres in 2010 to .256 last year with 22 steals, a career high. I think that's the biggest reason he was brought back - he was able to finally pull his weight for the most part at the plate and not just be labeled as an "all glove, no bat" type of player. Good for him.

With the exception of Kemp's mammoth deal, this is another signing by Ned Colletti that certainly wasn't major by any means, but fills a certain role. Now Don Mattingly knows he has a speed and defense off the bench in a close game (which is how most Dodger games are). If all goes well, he can be a good option at the top of the order to set the table for others.

Braun busted

2011-12-11T10:02:00.003-05:00

It's been a crazy sports weekend to say the least, from Robert Griffin III winning the Heisman Trophy, to Indiana beating the buzzer to take down #1 Kentucky, to Chris Paul getting denied access to the Lakers (thanks, Dictator Stern).

But this story has topped it all: Ryan Braun has been busted for using PED's.

That's maddening enough for baseball fans, who look to Braun as a clean-cut mega-star who helped carry them past the Steroid Era. Though he is appealing (and we have to remember the whole innocent until proven guilty thing), it's a definite black eye for the sport.

If you're a Dodger fan, however, it's even more frustrating. Let's not forget that Braun won the National League MVP this year over our own Matt Kemp. Throw in knowledge that Braun actually knew about the positive test a month before winning the award, and you can't help but think that if this news broke much earlier, Kemp would've won hands down.

Of course, there's plenty of people who believed Kemp should have won it in the first place, but obviously the Brewers' postseason run played a huge role. Take Braun out of the picture, and Kemp would've raised his first place vote total from 10. The only other players to receive votes for first were Prince Fielder and Justin Upton, who got one a piece.

For those of you wondering if Braun could get stripped of the award if the positive test holds up, you can forget about that. I haven't heard one word spoken of that. The ship has sailed, unfortunately.

Dodgers add Harang and move Eveland

2011-12-08T20:19:00.005-05:00

The Dodgers made a couple of moves today that officially rounded out their starting rotation... and brought an end to Hiroki Kuroda's tenure in LA.

Aaron Harang was signed to a two-year, $12 million deal with an option for 2014. He will join Clayton Kershaw, Chad Billingsley, Ted Lilly, and Chris Capuano in the rotation of proven arms. Ned Colletti did not want to see young Nathan Eovaldi handle the #5 role this soon, so getting Capuano and Harang turned out to be of high priority.

The other move, albiet a minor one, was to trade Dana Eveland to the Orioles for minor league starter Jarret Martin and outfielder Tyler Henson. Martin pitched in Single-A, while Henson appeared in Triple-A last season.

For awhile, it looked like Colletti would add either Capuano or Harang. After Caps signed last week, I didn't think they would even want Harang still. Fortunately, I was wrong, as I valued Harang as the better pitcher all along. Neither one of them is as good as Kuroda, but that ship has sailed regardless of who signed.

Last season was a good one for Harang, who bounced back from a horrible 2010 campaign with the Reds. After going to the Padres, he went 14-7 with a 3.64 ERA and 1.37 WHIP. He was obviously a much better pitcher at home (3.05 home vs. 4.70 road), but geez, who the heck wouldn't pitch better at PETCO Park? I think my ERA would be under four there.

Why else were the Dodgers impressed with Harang? Well, in three starts against them, he went 2-0 with an 0.45 ERA. That's one earned run in 20 innings. I'd say that's pretty good. Granted, the Dodgers didn't exactly set the world on fire at the plate (minus Matt Kemp), but those are still dominating numbers.

With the rotation now locked in, what the Dodgers really need to hope for is that Billingsley and Lilly pitch more consistently than they did last year. More so Bills than Lilly, as he has yet to match his so-called "mega-talent" to any sort of steady success. Lilly was awesome in the final two months, but pretty awful in the first four.

Kershaw will be Kershaw, as he's a legit ace now. The Dodgers know they'll have a great chance to win each of his 30+ starts he gets.

Since scoring runs should still be hard on plenty of nights, the rest of the rotation will be counted on even more to pitch solidly and give the Dodgers a chance to win in the late innings. Capuano and Harang will be at the back end, and it's good to know that while they're not dominating by any means, they are good matchups against most other team's 4-5 pitchers.

Jerry Hairston - your latest veteran utility man

2011-12-05T20:38:00.003-05:00

The Dodgers don't have a lot of resources when it comes to signing free agents. So rather than going after the big dogs like Prince Fielder, Albert Pujols, or Jose Reyes, Ned Colletti has filled in the blanks with veteran role players.

The newest example was Monday's signing of Jerry Hairstron, Jr., who agreed to a two-year, $6 million deal. He'll fill in the spot vacated by Jamey Carroll of ultimate utility man, able to play both infield and outfield whenever called upon.

Hairston split time between the Nationals and Brewers last season, hitting a combined .270 with five homers and 31 RBIs. He really came on late in the year as part of the Brew Crew's postseason run, taking over the third base spot and hitting .385 with a .422 OBP in 39 at-bats. Not too shabby for a guy expected to play off the bench.

Like I said before, his greatest quality is the ability to play practically any spot on defense. Last season he spent some amount of time at second, third, short, left, and center for both teams. It's nice to know that you can put him in and not miss a beat in up to six positions on the field. He's made a career out of that.

Much like the deals with Mark Ellis and Adam Kennedy, these are by no means major happenings. But, the Dodgers got some good production last year from Aaron Miles and Jamey Carroll, so there was a need to replace them considering the youth of Dee Gordon and Justin Sellers. Mix the vets with the young guns, and hope everyone pushes each other to get better.

Plus, it's the best Colletti can do considering the money he has... or money he doesn't have.

Hello, Capuano... Goodbye, Kuroda?

2011-12-03T09:02:00.003-05:00

If you are reading between the lines of Ned Colletti's newest signing, Friday appears to have marked the end of Hiroki Kuroda's Dodger career.

Chris Capuano was signed to a two-year, $10 million deal, with a club option for 2014. He rounds out the rotation, for now anyway, that includes Cy Young winner Clayton Kershaw, Ted Lilly, Chad Billingsley, and Nathan Eovaldi.

The odd man out? By all indications, it's Kuroda, who appears to be too pricey for the Dodgers. It's not exactly clear just how much money he's looking for, but the common number I've seen is $12 million to come back for one more go-around. And even if the Dodgers could come up with that kind of cash for just a year, it's not even known if he would definitely want to come back. It's been said that he wants to either go back to Japan to finish his career, or sign with a contender.

The bottom line: Kuroda is gone. That's all there is to that.

As for Capuano, he made himself relevant again by pitching pretty well for the Mets last season. Even though his numbers aren't exactly top-notch (11-12, 4.55 ERA, 1.35 WHIP), there are indications that he actually pitched better than that. For example, in 186 innings, he struck out 168 and only walked 53.

Capuano did give up 27 homers last year, which is high. But, Kuroda actually gave up 24 himself, so perhaps Caps had a case of bad luck. With a good defense behind him, I can see his ERA easily going down.

With payroll what is it, which isn't much, signings like Capuano, Mark Ellis, and Adam Kennedy are about all we can expect as fans. Serviceable players, but certainly nothing flashy. The Dodgers have to hope that they get the most out of their role players, and guys like Andre Ethier, James Loney, and Juan Uribe put up much better numbers to support Matt Kemp in the lineup.

Kennedy added for bench depth

2011-12-03T08:51:00.003-05:00

With Aaron Miles out of the picture, the Dodgers got to work replacing him on Thursday, signing Adam Kennedy to a one-year, $800,000 deal. He can earn up to an additional $150,000 based on plate appearances, which judging by Miles's playing time last year, is very possible.

The signing was necessary for a couple of reasons. One, he can play up to three infield positions (second and third, and a little bit of first). With Juan Uribe recovering from an injury-plagued, horrendous first season in LA, it's good to know someone else is there just in case. Second, he's a left-handed bat off the bench for pinch-hitting roles.

Kennedy has been in the bigs since breaking in with the Cardinals in 1999. He's best known for being with the Angels, as he was a big part of their postseason success in 2002, culminating with a ring. His three homers against the Twins in the ALCS helped pave the way.

He's also been described as a "good clubhouse presence." Though to be fair, I highly doubt anyone would actually say something like, "He's a cancer in the clubhouse, but we'll try it anyway." Still, I'll give Ned Colletti the benefit of the doubt.

It's going to be hard to replace what Jamey Carroll and Miles gave to the Dodgers last year, as they really came out of nowhere to give some great production. They've basically been replaced by Mark Ellis and Kennedy, two more veterans who are on their way down. Still, with payroll options very limited, it's about the best we can expect.

So, look for even more small ball in LA in 2012.

The Broxton Era is over

2011-11-29T22:05:00.004-05:00

The Dodgers and Jonathan Broxton have officially parted ways on Tuesday, as he agreed to a one-year, $4 million deal with the Royals. He moves on after spending the first seven years of his big league career in LA.

Just the name "Jonathan Broxton" alone brings up so many mixed emotions in people. He was at one point one of the top 2-3 closers in the game. He started closing full-time for an injured Takashi Saito in 2008, and the Dodgers didn't miss a beat. He collected 14 saves that year to go with a 3.13 ERA, and picked up the final outs in Game 3 of the NLDS to sweep the Cubs.

Unfortunately, he didn't end the '08 season well, as it's hard to forget the moon shot that Matt Stairs cranked off him in Game 4 of the NLCS against the Phillies. To this day it's one of the longest hit balls I've ever seen.

To Broxton's credit, he bounced back very well in 2009, as he posted his best numbers by far. He went 7-2 with 36 saves in 42 chances with a 2.61 ERA, and an incredible 114 strikeouts in 76 innings.

And, in an eerie repeat of the year before, he fell apart in the NLCS... in Game 4... to the Phillies. This time he walked Stairs with one out, beaned Carlos Ruiz, and after getting the second out, lost on a two-run double by Jimmy Rollins.

Then came the 2010 season, which saw him collect 12 straight saves in the month of May. Good. But then came the infamous meltdown on June 27 against the Yankees, in which he failed to protect a 6-2 lead in the 9th, giving up four runs and throwing a whopping 48 pitches. Bad. His ERA coming into that game was 0.83. He stunk after that, blowing five more saves and finishing with a 4.04 ERA.

You can forget about his 2011 campaign, as it was a waste. He made only 14 appearances, saving seven games, but with a 5.68 ERA. May 3 was his last game of the year, as he was shut down for good in September with elbow surgery.

While many people held on to hopes that he could put the past behind him and still be a force in the 'pen, but let's be realistic here: this is a move that's the best for both worlds. Broxton needed to get away, and the Dodgers needed him to go away. A fresh start, with hopefully a fresh arm, is the best thing for him, as a Broxton-Joakim Soria combination can be really good if both are on.

I've been a vocal critic of Broxton for awhile now. My biggest complaint was that he simply could not be counted on to make the big save. His fastball was losing velocity (his elbow I'm sure had something to do with that), and his slider wasn't reliable anymore. What he needs to do is learn how to become a complete pitcher. What was Eric Gagne's best pitch when he was breaking save records? An off-speed pitch. Broxton needs to develop one as well.

Not to be a hater, but I'm really not sad to see him go. I didn't have any confidence in him, and his presence will no longer force Don Mattingly into the awkward role of defending him. Now, the Dodgers can move on with guys like Kenley Jansen and Javy Guerra to finish off opponents, as they did so well in 2011.

Kemp finishes 2nd in MVP voting

2011-11-23T17:42:00.005-05:00

Matt Kemp did everything he possibly could to claim the National League's MVP award. Unfortunately, the players surrounding him cost him in the end.

Kemp finished second in the MVP balloting to the Brewers' Ryan Braun, whose team advanced to the NLCS before falling to the Cardinals. The Dodgers went nowhere for most of the season before getting hot at the end to just finish over .500 at 82-79.

While both players put up crazy numbers, it was Kemp who had the edge. Here's how they breakdown:

Braun: .332 AVG, .397 OBP, .994 OPS, 109 R, 38 2B, 33 HR, 111 RBI, 33 SB
Kemp: .324 AVG, .399 OBP, .986 OPS, 115 R, 33 2B, 39 HR, 126 RBI, 40 SB

Plus, there's the Gold Glove that Kemp brought home that Braun did not. Though to be fair, that award was not announced at the time of the MVP voting.

A couple of thoughts come to mind here. First, as I touched on before, Braun was obviously rewarded for being a member of the better team. There's no doubt he was a huge part of that, so he should be commended for it. It's hard to not like the guy, as he plays hard, puts up huge numbers, and stays out of trouble.

But, it's also hard not to ignore the fact that Braun had a monster backing him up in the lineup (Prince Fielder), and Kemp most certainly did not. Fielder finished third in the voting thanks to a .200 average, 38 homers, and 120 RBIs. Who had Kemp's back? Well, if you were to guess that Rod Barajas finished with the second most homers on the Dodgers with 16, you're either A) a liar (shame on you), or B) a reader of this site, as I've pointed it out over and over (thanks!).

Don't get me wrong, I'm not ripping Braun for winning, but merely making the case that the MVP award is more about overall team success than a measure of whom the best player is. Braun was awesome in 2011, but Kemp was slightly better. But the bottom line is, the Brewers were a much better team. And that's the difference.

Kemp did leave us with one parting thought - "Fifty/fifty." It could happen...

Kemp signs the dotted line

2011-11-19T15:08:00.003-05:00

Matt Kemp finalized his contract extension with the Dodgers on Friday, agreeing to an eight-year, $160 million deal. It's the largest in the storied history of the Dodgers.

Make no mistake about it: Matt Kemp is officially the face of the franchise.

With the Dodgers in the middle of a massive change in ownership, Ned Colletti did the right thing by declaring Kemp the guy who will lead the team into the future. And why not? The guy is coming off a season in which he posted some absolutely sick numbers: .324 AVG, .399 OBP, 115 R, 33 2B, 39 HR, 127 RBI, 40 S. Plus, he won his second Gold Glove by taking home the top honor for center field.

What made the 2011 even more special for Kemp was that he looked so lost the year before. It's hard to forget the images of Colletti complaining about his laziness and the many swinging strikeouts. Who knew what to expect from him going into this past season? He was about as big a question mark as there could be. He already had the reputation of a multi-talented player with little heart.

Rather than letting that become his legacy, he went out and showed the world what a top five-tool player looks like over and over again. Whether it was making a diving catch, stealing another base, or cracking a walk-off homer in extra-innings, he gave fans a reason to actually care about the Dodgers again, despite a mediocre record. He helped carry the team along with Clayton Kershaw.

The challenge for Kemp, like all others who sign huge contracts, will be to prove the money hasn't lessened the desire to be great. If you recall, Colletti's complaints two seasons ago came not long after he signed a two-year, $11.1 deal. It didn't take long for observers to question whether the money went straight to his head. A more mature Kemp this time around should eliminate that doubt.

It will also be interesting to see where the Dodgers go from here as far as the free agency scene goes. Dodger fans were hopefully that a big bat like Albert Pujols or Prince Fielder would come aboard, but Colletti did the smart thing in letting everyone know early that that wasn't going to happen. The payroll is already looking to be shrunk from $110 million last season to around $90 million next year. So you can forget about the big dogs.

Instead, there's guys like Andre Ethier and Kershaw to worry about. Ethier missed the end of the season with right knee surgery, so it's unknown how much the Dodgers want to commit to him. Still, unless a trade partner comes calling, it's hard to imagine him leaving. Kershaw is still under team control for three more years, so they will most likely milk that for all it's worth.

The offseason already got off to a great start thanks to Frank McCourt agreeing to take a hike. With Kemp signed, sealed, and delivered for many more years to come, Dodger fans have plenty more to get excited about. I know I am.

Cy Young caps Kershaw's brilliant season

2011-11-17T20:30:00.004-05:00

After a season full of dominating hitters, Clayton Kershaw dominated something one last time: first place ballots.

Kershaw was named the National League's Cy Young Award winner on Thursday. He received 27 out of a possible 32 first place votes, which put him well ahead of Roy Halladay, Cliff Lee, and Ian Kennedy. He's the first Dodger to claim the prestigious award since Eric Gagne in 2003, and first starting pitcher since Orel Hershiser in 1988.

The reason for winning is simple: he started the year off hot, and only got better in the heat of the summer. He ended up 21-5 with a 2.28 ERA, 0.99 WHIP, and 278 strikeouts in 233 1/3 innings pitched. Those numbers were good enough to win the pitching Triple Crown. Heck, he even picked off nine runners, which was a big reason he won the Gold Glove as well.

And let's not forget his continued mastery of Tim Lincecum, the two-time award winner. In head-to-head matchups, Kershaw went 4-0, winning by scores of 2-1, 1-0, 2-1, and 2-1. Those numbers alone showed just how much of a big-game pitcher he's become.

Obviously I'm a Dodger fan, and naturally a big fan of his, but this was absolutely the right call. The Dodgers may have fallen out of the playoff picture much earlier than other teams, but Kershaw still did his thing. In fact, for most of the season, about the only time you really needed to turn on a Dodger game was every fifth day. He was that much fun to watch.

Kershaw has set the bar very high for himself, but the scary part is that he's only 23. Can you imagine what kinds of numbers he'll put up for the next 10 years, and he'll still be in his early 30's? If the two studs from Philadelphia are any indication, he would still have plenty more good years ahead of him even then. Wow, that's just awesome to think about.

Even though the Dodgers went through all sorts of crap on and off the field during the season, the hardware has been flowing in very nicely, which shows they have the young guns to turn things around and fast. Kershaw will lead the way on the mound, with Matt Kemp on the other side. Dodger fans have to feel great about that.

Congratulations one more time to the great Clayton Kershaw, and here's to many more years of brilliance to come!

Treanor jumps on board

2011-11-15T22:04:00.003-05:00

The Dodgers have found their replacement for the departed Rod Barajas, signing Matt Treanor to a one-year, $850,000 deal on Tuesday. He won't be the starter, but will play a key role in helping the development of young A.J. Ellis and Tim Federowicz.

Treanor spent last season split between the Royals and Rangers. Offense is not exactly his thing, as he hit .214 with 3 homers and 17 RBIs. For that matter, offense has never been his thing, collecting a .225 average with 16 homers and 119 RBIs since 2004. He has also spent time with the Marlins and Tigers.

What he is known for, however, is defense. Described as a "catch and throw" type of guy, he gunned down 25% of basestealers last season. One part of Barajas that I thought was underrated was his ability to handle the pitching staff, especially Clayton Kershaw. If Ned Colletti is aiming for similar results, then Treanor is a good guy to replace him with.

Now is the time for Ellis to step up and be the man. Federowicz is still a little ways away from being ready for the bigs, and Treanor isn't expected to catch more than 40 games a year. If Ellis can continue where he left off in September (.323 average in 12 games), then a starting spot should be his. If he still can't claim it, I don't think he ever will.

Dodgers nab Ellis for 2nd base

2011-11-15T19:21:00.002-05:00

With the Dodgers closing in on locking up Matt Kemp with a huge deal, they made a smaller one to address another need on Tuesday.

Mark Ellis was inked to a two-year, $8.75 million deal to play second base. The deal includes an option for a third year.

Last season, Ellis split time between the A's and Rockies, hitting .248, 7 homers, 48 RBIs, and 15 stolen bases. For his career, he's hit .266 with a .331 OBP. He was a member of the A's organization since 2002 before being traded last season.

When it's all said and done, the Dodgers have basically swapped Jamey Carroll (who signed with the Twins) with Ellis. But which of the two is better? Well, Carroll is 38 and Ellis is 34. Both look to be locked in at starting positions, as Carroll will be at short.

I have to think it will be hard for Ellis to top the production of Carroll, who put together a good couple of years playing many different roles. Carroll hit .290 in 2010 and .291 last season. He also averaged playing in 140 games a season, and started in both the infield and outfield. I was disappointed to see him leave, but certainly can't blame him for taking Minnesota's offer.

Ellis has more pop, as he had five straight seasons of 10+ homers. He hit .291 in 2010, but really tanked to start the 2011 season with a .217 in 62 games. After moving over to the Rockies, though, he hit .274 in 70 games.

Both are good defenders, but the edge has to go to Ellis, who owns a career .990 fielding %. In playing second between both teams last year, he committed three errors in 636 total chances. Wow.

What the Dodgers have to hope for is that Ellis is more like the hitter he was in Colorado and not at the end of his Oakland tenure. They definitely will get a slick double play combination with Dee Gordon up the middle, as both can flat out get it done. That should be fun to watch.

It's not a major signing by any means, but with Kemp in the fold and second base taken care of, it's time to look at locking up the other big guns (Clayton Kershaw, possibly Andre Ethier) and improving their starting pitching.

Kemp on the verge of massive deal

2011-11-14T16:06:00.003-05:00

If the news of a deal for Matt Kemp is true, he is about to become a very rich man.

The Dodgers look to be all set to extend Kemp's contract for eight years and $160 million, the largest in franchise history. It would easily outpace Kevin Brown's lousy seven year - $105 deal signed in 1998. Let's just hope this one turns out slightly better than that.

Kemp is scheduled to take a physical on Monday, which is a mere formality before it can officially be announced. When it does, I'll be back for more analysis on just how big of a move this is to the franchise.

Barajas goes to the Pirates

2011-11-11T15:27:00.003-05:00

The Pittsburgh Pirates swooped in on Thursday and signed Rod Barajas to a one-year deal with a club option for 2013. He'll get a bump in salary from $3.5 million last year to $4 million this year.

Barajas is a streaky hitter, but one with pretty good pop. This past season he appeared in 98 games, hitting .230 with 16 homers (good for second on the team, which is a little sad) and 47 RBIs. He also stole... zero bases. But he does have two for his career!

I'm a little bummed about losing Barajas because he you knew what you were going to get with him - around 15 homers and a tough presence behind the plate. It's by no means a huge loss, but I think he was good for the pitching staff.

The new catching options for the Dodgers are young in A.J. Ellis and Tim Federowicz. Ellis has been up and down like a damn elevator between the minors and majors. Last year he played in 31 games, hitting .271 with 2 homers and 11 RBIs. To his credit, he played very well in September, hitting .323.

Federowicz was acquired at the trade deadline, so he only appeared in seven games, going 2-for-13 with an RBI. He's known for his defense, a major reason why Ned Colletti got him.

It wouldn't surprise me to see Colletti go after a veteran catcher, as that seems to be his forte. Ellis and Federowicz are decent options, but I'd hardly consider them difference makers behind the plate, especially right now.

McCourt to sell... and the fans rejoice!

2011-11-02T16:39:00.003-04:00

November 2, 2011... the day the Dodgers turned around?

Only time will tell, but regardless, this is a day that will forever be etched in Dodgers' lore. Frank McCourt has agreed to sell the team after a lengthy fight to hold on. The decision comes at a time when the free agency frenzy will soon begin.

McCourt sent out an email on Tuesday to inform his employees of the decision. In part, it read:

"I have made this decision because I believe it is in the best interests of our
organization, our loyal fans and the community at large."

Well, that's nice. Granted it came years too late, but it's safe to say there were plenty of fans who thought this day would never come. But thankfully, it has, and now we can all look forward to improving the team for the 2012 season and beyond.

One point I do have to caution fans about is not to think this will automatically make the Dodgers the team to beat. Yes, it will certainly help their long-term future, but there's plenty of work left to be done. Just as all of other teams are facing right now, it's all about which players to resign, which players to dump, and which players to seek after in free agency.

I'm sure we'll be hearing in upcoming days and weeks about possible suitors, including the Mavs' Mark Cuban, who must be loving this news. As usual, I'll keep you posted on any breaking news.

Kemp, Kershaw, and Ethier are GOLDEN

2011-11-02T16:24:00.003-04:00

Mark down the dates of November 1 and November 2, 2011 as huge moments in the history of the Dodgers' organization.

First things first, and a big congratulations go out to Clayton Kershaw, Matt Kemp, and Andre Ethier for winning the National League Gold Glove awards at pitcher, center fielder, and right fielder, respectively. It's the second time for Kemp, and the first for Kershaw and Ethier.

It's also the first time in the history of the Dodgers that a trio have won these awards. After a season full of letdowns, this is a sign that great things could be to come.

For the first time, Rawlings split the award for outfield into all three positions, as opposed to any three outfielders winning it. That no doubt helped Ethier, who admitted that he didn't have much thought of winning. He outlasted Carlos Beltran and Jay Bruce.

Kemp, on the other hand, outpolled Shane Victorino and Chris Young in center, two fantastic fielders. And deservedly so, as he became the ultimate five-tool player this year with his monster offensive numbers and diving plays in the field. He last won this award in 2009.

Kershaw won over fellow teammate Hiroki Kuroda, and Kyle Lohse. If you watched the presentation show on ESPN 2, you saw highlights of Kershaw making diving plays to get outs at first. He's looking to join the great Orel Hershiser as the only Dodgers to win the Gold Glove and Cy Young Awards in the same season. It's highly likely he will indeed do so.

Kemps wins the NL Hank Aaron Award

2011-10-20T19:08:00.003-04:00

Matt Kemp's monster 2011 season became even sweeter on Thursday by winning the National League Hank Aaron Award. The award is in recognition of the best offensive player in each league. Hall of Famers vote on the award, including Aaron, Tony Gwynn, and Robin Yount.

While it remains to be seen if Kemp will also claim the MVP, there's no denying that he put together the total package to get this award. In addition to hitting .326, he led the NL with 39 homers, 126 RBIs, and 115 runs. He also had 40 steals to just barely miss joining the prestigious 40/40 club. But hey, 30/30 ain't too shabby.

The MVP award will be announced on November 22, so there's still a month to wait and see.