Roger Arrieta
Ahh…The boys are back and not a minute too soon. Despite half the team being up the road in Rancho Cucamonga, Matt Kemp and Juan Uribe lead the way to a Dodgers 3-0 Victory over the Angels…JUAN URIBE?!? Yeah, you read that correctly. Uribe went 2 for 3 raising his Surprising spring batting average to .354 before being replaced by Nick Punto. But the story tonight was the pitching. Hyun-Jin Ryu came as advertised, looking dominant in his just 4 innings of work allowing No hits and No walks while striking out 4. The rest of the bullpen was just as stingy allowing 1 hit and striking out 3 combined. While it is only a spring training game, It was a nice measuring stick considering that the Anaheim Angels of Anaheim threw out their opening day lineup with the exception of Dodger reject Joe Blanton. The boy wonder Mike Trout and Former MVP’s Albert Pujols and Josh Hamilton went a combined 0-9 with 2 Strikeouts. Any time you can shut down any of those guys let alone all 3, your chances for a victory are gonna skyrocket.
This season I will be supplying in depth coverage following games and not pulling any punches when it comes to our boys in blue. This isn’t a blog where we COPY and PASTE things. We share our thoughts and feelings. Good or Bad. Winning or Losing. I may make you laugh, I may make you angry but I will only guarantee you’ll be informed and entertained. We’ll also be doing a weekly podcast soon where you can interact and share your thoughts with us.
Okay, so got all that out of the way.
My Preseason thoughts,..Kemp does NOT look right, I know he usually goes cold in spring and he’ll probably hit a home run on opening day to prove me wrong. But I don’t think he’s comfortable yet with that shoulder. Hanley Ramirez being out is NOT going to hurt us one bit. Actually it is going to make us stronger defensively. Hanley has clearly lost a step, but his bat hasn’t. Luis Cruz while not consistent with the bat, he’s like a vacuum with that glove and when Hanley is back he’ll slide back into the 3b position where he rightfully belongs. Carl Crawford WILL bat .320, hit 15 homers and drive in 90 runs while scoring 100. I know this sounds like I am nuts, but then again these are MY preseason thoughts…get your own! Andre Ethier will be traded. Yeah, I know…all the ladies reading this will swoon and then send me hate mail, but he will be gone..Presumably for a catcher or front line pitching prospect. Yasiel Puig will be called up too soon, he wont fail but he’s not Mike Trout, yet.. so temper your expectations.. A-Gon will be A-Gon again..Cue applause! Fed-ex will take over primary catching duties from A.J.Ellis. Greinke and Kershaw are going to a more dominant duo than Koufax and Drysdale were. League will save 55 games and justify the Dodgers overspending on him. Ned Colletti will look like a genius for acquiring Skip Schumaker. Hyun-Jin Ryu will win Rookie of the year, he’ll go 17-6 with 180 Strikeouts and a 3.88 ERA…Josh Beckett will be the Best #4 pitcher in baseball. Billingsley will NOT stay healthy all season, Capuano will take his spot and Chris Reed will be called up to take his spot in the Bully..
I know my thoughts don’t coincide with what your thinking or they might..I hope you enjoyed, be on the lookout after every game for a recap.
Great!!! Now I don’t know about kershaw and Greinke being better than Drysdale and Koufax. Those are legends that shouldn’t be compared
A great read first and foremost. Accurate as well. I want to comment on Hanley. I believe he only appears to have a lost a step. He actually has more range than what we seen from him when we acquired him. Tim Wallach has publicly praised him for his hard work. Playing in the WBC was a relaxing time for him with room for error, once he shakes that off he will come back to form.
A little optimistic, League 55 saves, you really are putting yourself out there, but I hope you are right. If he has 40, I would be ecstatic.
Thanks for the predictions, and hopefully, lots of happy recaps.
Fred/Spring Hill FL
Whats going to happen with Gordon? Trade bait?
Your blog is “spot on.”