Our keys to rebounding in 2014

[duke1861]

Well, now we know what we have to do to get back here and also what we have to do to beat the Cardinals. I doubt they are going anywhere for a while so we will probably be facing them.

1. We will have to be active in free agency again. You have to admire the Cards for excellent drafting and development. Alot of Dodger fans don't understand that McCourt robbed us of the draft for at least 3 years. That being said, we are rebuilding the farm system. Quite frankly, our minor league system is crap. We have about 3 top notch pitchers (Lee, Urias and Anderson) and 2 top notch hitters (Pederson and Seager). That is not good. None of those players will be ready before 2015. Its a sad state of affairs....thanks Frank!

2. The pitching is still not where it needs to be. We got exposed by the Cards to some extent. I have all the faith in the world in Kershaw and Greinke and I am confident in Ryu. That being said, the #4 and #5 starters are up in the air. We can't go the same route as last year and pray that Beckett and Billingsly will be 100% healthy. We need Tanaka in all honesty or another stud #4 pitcher to help lock down that back end rotation.

With the bullpen, we need to figure out what is going on with Wilson. I would like to bring him back to set-up, but it might cost too much. We have lots of question marks with the pen and the back end of the rotation. Bottom line is that it cannot be a weakness for us or we will never advance beyond the NLCS. Again, I would sign Wilson and Tanaka.

3. The outfield problem. We have 4 outfielders who make a lot of money. The problem is that Kemp cannot stay healthy and Either seems to be backsliding. We have to trade one of them. I would rather trade Either because Kemp should be 100% for 2014.

4. Power problems. This can be addressed with Alexander Guerrero.

I think we have a core good team but we need a piece of two to advance. Remember, we don't want to simply do enough to win the NL West, we want to win the world series. Unfortunely, we cannot count on our farm system to provide reinforcements yet, so we have to sign or trade for talent. Hopefully in a few years, that will not be the issue. To do list:

1. Resign Kershaw
2. Sign Tanaka
3. Sign Alexander Guerrero
4. Resign Brian Wilson
5. Trade Andre Either and hopefully Josh Beckett
6. Replenish the bench as necessary.

Its easier said than done and it will require a ton of cash, but I cannot see another way given the situation we are in.

 

[SJ20]

Fire Mattingly
Trade Ethier and Bills
Get a 2B and maybe McCann or Salty
Re-sign Wilson
Release Belisario
Hire a manager with experience

 

[Cobiemonster]

I think if the Dodgers can get a legitimate number four starter(I'm not sure Ricky Nolasco is that guy) and a solid 5th starter they won't have to put all the burden on the top 3 in the rotation

A 2B would be good too for the Dodgers - they need more offense from that spot

 

[LALakersboy24.7]

Well, now we know what we have to do to get back here and also what we have to do to beat the Cardinals. I doubt they are going anywhere for a while so we will probably be facing them.

1. We will have to be active in free agency again. You have to admire the Cards for excellent drafting and development. Alot of Dodger fans don't understand that McCourt robbed us of the draft for at least 3 years. That being said, we are rebuilding the farm system. Quite frankly, our minor league system is crap. We have about 3 top notch pitchers (Lee, Urias and Anderson) and 2 top notch hitters (Pederson and Seager). That is not good. None of those players will be ready before 2015. Its a sad state of affairs....thanks Frank!

2. The pitching is still not where it needs to be. We got exposed by the Cards to some extent. I have all the faith in the world in Kershaw and Greinke and I am confident in Ryu. That being said, the #4 and #5 starters are up in the air. We can't go the same route as last year and pray that Beckett and Billingsly will be 100% healthy. We need Tanaka in all honesty or another stud #4 pitcher to help lock down that back end rotation.

With the bullpen, we need to figure out what is going on with Wilson. I would like to bring him back to set-up, but it might cost too much. We have lots of question marks with the pen and the back end of the rotation. Bottom line is that it cannot be a weakness for us or we will never advance beyond the NLCS. Again, I would sign Wilson and Tanaka.

3. The outfield problem. We have 4 outfielders who make a lot of money. The problem is that Kemp cannot stay healthy and Either seems to be backsliding. We have to trade one of them. I would rather trade Either because Kemp should be 100% for 2014.

4. Power problems. This can be addressed with Alexander Guerrero.

I think we have a core good team but we need a piece of two to advance. Remember, we don't want to simply do enough to win the NL West, we want to win the world series. Unfortunely, we cannot count on our farm system to provide reinforcements yet, so we have to sign or trade for talent. Hopefully in a few years, that will not be the issue. To do list:

1. Resign Kershaw
2. Sign Tanaka
3. Sign Alexander Guerrero
4. Resign Brian Wilson
5. Trade Andre Either and hopefully Josh Beckett
6. Replenish the bench as necessary.

Its easier said than done and it will require a ton of cash, but I cannot see another way given the situation we are in.

The problem is you cant just get trade Bills & Bekette they are still owed money next year especially Bekette, but we do need another 4th starter i was not impress with Ricky. We need to to really work on our pen it was just no consistent all year IMO with guys like League & Belasario blowing games away. But i agree that not once was all our 4 outfielders healthy all at the sametime LOL carzy! another thing we need to do is get rid of player like Hairston,Skip,M Ellis, Young & Punto pure garbage in the end & Gordon

And yes i know alot of us wish Don would be gone next year but it wont happend

I didn't think we would win it this year even before the season started, but they had a great run when pretty much they where left for dead in june in last place & atleast we are not the Diamondbacks

 

[Silas]

The Dodgers will probably explore a lot of the options proposed. I have to believe the BP and bench will be revamped. Another SP or two are probably on the horizon. The Guerrero saga needs to come to an end and the Dodgers have to figure out if they will go after Uribe.

If Brian Wilson wants to be a closer again, he won't return to the Dodgers. I would like to see him back, but I'm not optimistic.

The Dodgers have a very good team. They, like every other team, have room for improvement. I think we will see an even better team next season. Now we will see what happens.

 

[SJ20]

Sadly, I have more faith in Wilson closing than Jansen. Track record.

 

[Cobiemonster]

Sadly, I have more faith in Wilson closing than Jansen. Track record.

I thought Kenley was great for the Dodgers this season

 

[SJ20]

I thought Kenley was great for the Dodgers this season

He was. I just was referring to the playoffs and pressure situations. Wilson's been there and it doesn't seem to phase him.

 

[LALakersboy24.7]

I thought Kenley was great for the Dodgers this season

He would of had alot more saved games if he had closed games since the beginning of the season. Don had League as a closer to start the season then League was removed from that role because he was just horrible. He blew some games away that we could of won & who knows possibly we would of had homfield, but once again thats Donnie baseball using MR Consistency Belasario & League in dumb key moments through out the year IMO.

I can remember so many games that Belasario blew going back to last season, but i wont get in to that now we had a great run, should be another exciting season in 2014 GO DODGERS!

 

[Old1949]

The Dodgers do have weaknesses in the BP and bench, but the primary reason they did not win it all this year is inconsistent hitting. One day great, next day poor. They seem to struggle mightily against top-tier pitchers. They lost an awful lot of close games that the pitching kept us in, but the hitting couldn't put the game away.
What to do about that? Maybe some offensive upgrades during the off season, and maybe a new hitting coach.

 

[LALakersboy24.7]

Another thing too is WTF is up with our training staff?? i mean damn! so many injuries your job is to have these guys healthy on the field as much as possible, yes i know freak injuries happen, but damn i never seen a Dodger team have so many guys on the DL like this season....Jesus Christ

Let's bring in another training staff IMO because the ones we have ain't cutting it & this ownership has invested too much to have these key players on the DL as much as they did this season....in other words fire those 2 dumb blonde bitches ASAP!!

 

[LALakersboy24.7]

While the depression of last night is far from warn-off, the good news is that there’s hope in the future.

These aren’t the Dodgers that begin each season with a heavy dose of pessimism, knowing it will take more than a little luck to propel them to success.

These are the Dodgers who are built to win now, but also built to win for good.

Kershaw will be back, along with Greinke and Ryu. Not a bad 1-2-3 on the mound.

At the plate, a healthy Hanley Ramirez and Matt Kemp will bat alongside Yasiel Puig, Adrian Gonzalez and either Andre Ethier or Carl Crawford.

You won’t find a deeper lineup than that many places in baseball.

In the bullpen, the Dodgers are solidified by Kenley Jansen, who will be back, along with guys like Paco Rodriguez and Chris Withrow.

Will there be holes to fill? Sure.

The Dodgers need a second baseman, a third baseman, some bullpen help and maybe even another arm for the rotation, but these aren’t the Dodgers who need to worry about filling those holes.

These are the Dodgers who go and get what they want.

So yes, it’s a sour taste that’s been left in our mouths right now, but the good news is that this team is destined for many more seasons like this one — hopefully with a better ending.

 

[duke1861]

The Dodgers do have weaknesses in the BP and bench, but the primary reason they did not win it all this year is inconsistent hitting. One day great, next day poor. They seem to struggle mightily against top-tier pitchers. They lost an awful lot of close games that the pitching kept us in, but the hitting couldn't put the game away.
What to do about that? Maybe some offensive upgrades during the off season, and maybe a new hitting coach.

I agree. Bottom line is that the additions of Guerrero and Tanaka would have gotten the job done against the Cards. Chances are the Braves and Cards will be facing us the next few years in our climb to the top. We need 4 solid starters and we need more power in the line-up.

Health will be a huge factor as well. Ramirez and Kemp need to do nothing the entire offseason except get treatment.

 

[CatsTopPac]

I think that our 1-3 in the rotation is fine (as does everyone else), but I have to believe that between Nolasco, Capuano, Billingsley, Lilly, Beckett, Volquez, etc., whom we already have, the two best pitchers should be able to round out a very nice rotation.

In relation to that, and our injury problems overall, I don't know if it's the trainers, or the training program, or WTF, but whatever is causing these systemic injury problems has got to be eliminated. I have to believe that if we were much healthier (even if not completely heathy) we would have still been in it right now, with home field advantage.

As far as the rotation, it's our biggest weakness, as has been mentioned. If league or Bellisario ever pitch another game in a Dodgers' uniform, I'm going to freak out. If we have to clean house other than Jansen, and Wilson, then so be it. I wouldn't be surprised if Wilson still wants to be a closer, but he is ultimately going to realize that he is no longer a dominant closer, and would be much better as a reliable set up man. Other than that, I am so disgusted with the bullpen. I do think that Dominguez has potential if he can work on his control. I'd like to see what he can do next year.

Fielding and hitting, I think that we are still not very bad at all. Again, injuries played such a large factor in the first few months with 60 different line-ups in the first 63 games. But I think that with four outfielders, the best three play, and the fourth plays to give someone a day off (which Crawford seems to need from time to time), DH during interleague, or in case of injury, we are still looking great. McGuire needs to go. I have no idea how a lifetime .263 hitter is in anyway an authority on hitting. Why, because he took HGH? Well, guess what, if the players can't also take it, then it means nothing to have McGuire. That being said, I think that we still very much need the bench like Hairston, Punto, Gordon, Schu, and Young. Other than Gordon, they all play multiple positions, which helped us greatly this year, stay in the mix despite so many injuries. If we want to get rid of Hairston because Schu can cover the middle infield and outfield, then fine, but we need someone to give Uribe and A-Gon rest, and that's either an old Young, or an old Hairston. Again, I'm not saying that it has to be either, but it would be nice to have someone who can do both. Maybe SVS? I don't think we get rid of Mark Ellis though. Dude is one of the best fielders in baseball, and hit .270 which is the 5th best in his career. He's getting older, but I would only replace him with someone of equal quality, and their are only a few.

Again guys, I think that our biggest problem was injuries, followed by the bullpen, and then a hitting coach. But if we had like Crawford, Puig, Hanley, Kemp, A-Gon, Uribe, Ellis, Ellis, and then Ethier for DH, there is absolutely nothing wrong with that lineup. Can you seriously imagine if we had those guys all year??????? Murder's Row redux. And if we had Kersh, Greinke, Ryu, and any two of the other six other starters we have who can keep their ERA under 4.00? That would be so ridiculous. Especially if they've all played with each other the year prior and all went to the NLCS.

I just don't think that besides the bullpen, and replacing McGuire, we don't have very much to work on. Above all, we need to just stay healthy.

 

[Silas]

I think that our 1-3 in the rotation is fine (as does everyone else), but I have to believe that between Nolasco, Capuano, Billingsley, Lilly, Beckett, Volquez, etc., whom we already have, the two best pitchers should be able to round out a very nice rotation.

In relation to that, and our injury problems overall, I don't know if it's the trainers, or the training program, or WTF, but whatever is causing these systemic injury problems has got to be eliminated. I have to believe that if we were much healthier (even if not completely heathy) we would have still been in it right now, with home field advantage.

As far as the rotation, it's our biggest weakness, as has been mentioned. If league or Bellisario ever pitch another game in a Dodgers' uniform, I'm going to freak out. If we have to clean house other than Jansen, and Wilson, then so be it. I wouldn't be surprised if Wilson still wants to be a closer, but he is ultimately going to realize that he is no longer a dominant closer, and would be much better as a reliable set up man. Other than that, I am so disgusted with the bullpen. I do think that Dominguez has potential if he can work on his control. I'd like to see what he can do next year.

Fielding and hitting, I think that we are still not very bad at all. Again, injuries played such a large factor in the first few months with 60 different line-ups in the first 63 games. But I think that with four outfielders, the best three play, and the fourth plays to give someone a day off (which Crawford seems to need from time to time), DH during interleague, or in case of injury, we are still looking great. McGuire needs to go. I have no idea how a lifetime .263 hitter is in anyway an authority on hitting. Why, because he took HGH? Well, guess what, if the players can't also take it, then it means nothing to have McGuire. That being said, I think that we still very much need the bench like Hairston, Punto, Gordon, Schu, and Young. Other than Gordon, they all play multiple positions, which helped us greatly this year, stay in the mix despite so many injuries. If we want to get rid of Hairston because Schu can cover the middle infield and outfield, then fine, but we need someone to give Uribe and A-Gon rest, and that's either an old Young, or an old Hairston. Again, I'm not saying that it has to be either, but it would be nice to have someone who can do both. Maybe SVS? I don't think we get rid of Mark Ellis though. Dude is one of the best fielders in baseball, and hit .270 which is the 5th best in his career. He's getting older, but I would only replace him with someone of equal quality, and their are only a few.

Again guys, I think that our biggest problem was injuries, followed by the bullpen, and then a hitting coach. But if we had like Crawford, Puig, Hanley, Kemp, A-Gon, Uribe, Ellis, Ellis, and then Ethier for DH, there is absolutely nothing wrong with that lineup. Can you seriously imagine if we had those guys all year??????? Murder's Row redux. And if we had Kersh, Greinke, Ryu, and any two of the other six other starters we have who can keep their ERA under 4.00? That would be so ridiculous. Especially if they've all played with each other the year prior and all went to the NLCS.

I just don't think that besides the bullpen, and replacing McGuire, we don't have very much to work on. Above all, we need to just stay healthy.

The Dodgers do need another couple of starters and they need to look elsewhere to find them. Nolasco is inconsistent, Capuano is average at best, Lilly is already gone ( thank goodness), Bills and Beckett are huge question marks, Volquez is too unpredictable.

The BP does need to be revamped and League and Bellasario do need to go. Wilson will sign elsewhere. So, the Dodgers have some work to do.

I believe the Dodgers will re-sign Uribe. I like Ellis at 2B, but I believe the Dodgers will sign Guerrero. If not, don't be surprised if the Dodgers inquire about Brandon Phillips. Reports are that Phillips is on the block.

As for the bench, a lot of the problem with the bench was that they had to start too much when they were acquired to play reserve roles. Hairston is probably going to retire, Young doesn't want to be a reserve player and I don't believe the Dodgers will want them back any way. I believe Punto and Schumacher will likely return, but there are probably better options out there.

Injuries are going to happen, but you can't blame injuries on the trainers when guys get hurt running into walls or at the WBC, or in brawls. The players need to be responsible for their own conditioning. Kemp never would have hurt his ankle if he was hustling.

The lineup is awesome IF everyone stays healthy. An upgrade at 2B would be welcome and maybe even at catcher. Dodgers could look to sign McCann and trade AJ Ellis for pitching help.

Whatever happens, the Dodgers will be even better next season. There is a lot to be excited about.

 

[CatsTopPac]

Don't get me wrong, I'm not specifically a Capuano fan, but I think his problems are all between the ears. He goes out and throws gems, and goes and gives up 5ER, rinse and repeat. If he somehow had the focus of Kershaw, he could be extremely effective. Not sure it will happen, but the potential is there, is all I'm saying. And really, the same could be said for Nolasco. I have less confidence in his potential though. I think Beckett needs to learn that he's not a power pitcher anymore. He's not going to blow anyone away, he needs to learn how to pick and hit his spots to be effective (similar to Lincecum).

And as far as injuries, for the most part, you are absolutely correct. Injuries are a part of the game. I almost think that the best teams are the ones who can compete the best, despite the injuries. I guess what I am referring to are things like Kemp's hamstring. I know hamstrings can be reoccurring, but that's ridiculous for it to happen over a 16 month period!! And I get that he messed up his own ankle. completely agree. But since when does an ankle injury take over 3 months to heal??? I've sprained each of my ankles countless times, and I know that they can take longer, and hurt more than broken ankles. But 3 months?? I don't question that the players hurt themselves, but I can question if the current training program is making players susceptible to injuries, or more importantly, if the rehab programs are effective. Again, I'm not claiming to be a doctor, but Jesus, they were not only dropping like flies, it seemed that far too many (not all) of the injuries took far too long to come back from. I just think it needs to be looked into.

I think we can upgrade on C and 2B, Phillips and McCann would definitely be an improvement. And overall, I agree. I think we're better than fine. I just think it was so ridiculous that we had most of our roster on the DL at one time or another, and half of our starting pitchers gone for the whole season. Seriously, 20 players on the DL in a year is insane (dumb shit moves, and prior injuries aside).

 

[Villain]

"Rebound" as if this season was a total failure?

I don't know about you guys, but there's no shame in finishing 2 wins away from the World Series. You guys need to get real.

 

[duke1861]

"Rebound" as if this season was a total failure?

I don't know about you guys, but there's no shame in finishing 2 wins away from the World Series. You guys need to get real.

It wasn't a total failure but this team was built to go to the World Series. Players even indicated that a World Series was the only acceptable outcome.

 

[OutlawImmortal]

Personally, I felt like we were better off without homefield advantage. We could have easily stolen 1 or both of the games in St. Louis, we just couldn't get it done.

 

[OutlawImmortal]

It wasn't a total failure but this team was built to go to the World Series. Players even indicated that a World Series was the only acceptable outcome.

Judging by the way we started this season, I'd say this season was far from a failure. The team put up one of the greatest runs in Dodgers history.