Dodgers (1 Viewer)

[thatguy]

This team is stacked. Great lineup top to bottom, great pitching staff. Are they the best team in baseball?

 

[The Kansas Comet]

I love their lineup, as well as their bench options when they need to give guys a day off. However, their pitching depth is lacking this season, especially in the rotation. But Kemp and Ethier both look ready to be big-time contributors, and having Manny makes everyone's job easier. Ethier got a 3-1 fastball right down the middle on Saturday with 2 on because Manny was on deck and he jumped all over it, knowing it was coming. It is a lot of fun to watch them hit this year.

 

[T Bell]

I love their lineup, as well as their bench options when they need to give guys a day off. However, their pitching depth is lacking this season, especially in the rotation. But Kemp and Ethier both look ready to be big-time contributors, and having Manny makes everyone's job easier. Ethier got a 3-1 fastball right down the middle on Saturday with 2 on because Manny was on deck and he jumped all over it, knowing it was coming. It is a lot of fun to watch them hit this year.

Billingsley looks like a legit #1, and Kershaw looks like he's not far behind. Wolf and Kuroda are both solid but are major health concerns. McDonald is learning how to start and may come around, but probably won't be a reliable starter at least until later in the year, if at all this year. Stults is a decent additional option who can probably win as many as he loses if they need to use him. In the bullpen, Broxton is an emerging stud closer who looks "tougher" this year in that spot. With the very reliable Wade out with shoulder problems, and Kuo having two very inconsistent set-up appearances recently, they're still pretty deep but have got some question marks otherwise. Assuming their lineup remains intact otherwise, their Achilles may be their 3-5 starters and/or the middle relief. If the pitching staff holds up, however, they're certainly looking like a major player in October.

 

[Sonny Lubick Blowup Doll]

Is this a jinx thing?

 

[thatguy]

Is this a jinx thing?

Nope. Just an observation. I knew they were good, but with Kemp, Ethier, and Kershaw looking to have made major strides forward since last season, Orlando Hudson looking damn good so far, and Billingsley coming out of the gates as a surefire ace, they're better than I realized.

 

[Sonny Lubick Blowup Doll]

Is this a jinx thing?

Nope. Just an observation. I knew they were good, but with Kemp, Ethier, and Kershaw looking to have made major strides forward since last season, Orlando Hudson looking damn good so far, and Billingsley coming out of the gates as a surefire ace, they're better than I realized.

Then yeah, when they acquire another starter mid-season, that should just about do it...

 

[thatguy]

It's amazing how much success they've had with their young prospects the past few seasons - Kemp, Ethier, Martin, Loney, Billingsley, Kershaw, Broxton...

 

[thatguy]

I remember hearing rumors during the offseason about a potential Holliday for Kemp deal. No idea if there was any truth to this being a real possibility, but man I wish it had happened.

 

[Mr. Brownstone]

It's amazing how much success they've had with their young prospects the past few seasons - Kemp, Ethier, Martin, Loney, Billingsley, Kershaw, Broxton...

Ned Coletti gets piled on, and rightfully so, for some of the moves he has made, especially expensive free agent additions. But, he deserves credit for resisting the temptation to move the core group of young players.

 

[T Bell]

It's amazing how much success they've had with their young prospects the past few seasons - Kemp, Ethier, Martin, Loney, Billingsley, Kershaw, Broxton...

Ned Coletti gets piled on, and rightfully so, for some of the moves he has made, especially expensive free agent additions. But, he deserves credit for resisting the temptation to move the core group of young players.

I was just about to write the same thing. Too often the moves that GM's don't make are overlooked, and a GM who is under fire like Coletti has been is very tempted to make a splashy trade to make up for bad decisions. He's not done that with their young prospects, and the team is reaping the rewards now.

 

[The Kansas Comet]

It's amazing how much success they've had with their young prospects the past few seasons - Kemp, Ethier, Martin, Loney, Billingsley, Kershaw, Broxton...

Ned Coletti gets piled on, and rightfully so, for some of the moves he has made, especially expensive free agent additions. But, he deserves credit for resisting the temptation to move the core group of young players.

I was just about to write the same thing. Too often the moves that GM's don't make are overlooked, and a GM who is under fire like Coletti has been is very tempted to make a splashy trade to make up for bad decisions. He's not done that with their young prospects, and the team is reaping the rewards now.

True - I've bashed Colletti as much as anyone for his signings of guys like Schmidt and Jones, but thankfully he's resisted shipping off those guys mentioned above. Of course, if he had traded Kemp & Kershaw for Peavy, I'd be serving life without parole in San Quentin.Now he just needs to find a starting pitcher at the trade line as SLBD stated earlier and this Dodger team (if it stays healthy) should be a force to be reckoned with come October. Don't know how many more pieces are available in the farm system (it sounds like that catcher the Indians got in the Blake deal is pretty darn good) to make it happen, but I imagine many teams will be in salary dump mode by then.

 

[T Bell]

I love their lineup, as well as their bench options when they need to give guys a day off. However, their pitching depth is lacking this season, especially in the rotation. But Kemp and Ethier both look ready to be big-time contributors, and having Manny makes everyone's job easier. Ethier got a 3-1 fastball right down the middle on Saturday with 2 on because Manny was on deck and he jumped all over it, knowing it was coming. It is a lot of fun to watch them hit this year.

Billingsley looks like a legit #1, and Kershaw looks like he's not far behind. Wolf and Kuroda are both solid but are major health concerns. McDonald is learning how to start and may come around, but probably won't be a reliable starter at least until later in the year, if at all this year. Stults is a decent additional option who can probably win as many as he loses if they need to use him. In the bullpen, Broxton is an emerging stud closer who looks "tougher" this year in that spot. With the very reliable Wade out with shoulder problems, and Kuo having two very inconsistent set-up appearances recently, they're still pretty deep but have got some question marks otherwise. Assuming their lineup remains intact otherwise, their Achilles may be their 3-5 starters and/or the middle relief. If the pitching staff holds up, however, they're certainly looking like a major player in October.

They've scored 5 runs in each of two losses at Minute Maid Park. Their pitching simply can't keep runs off the board right now against the Astros.

 

[thatguy]

Billingsley lights out so far this season. If he keeps racking up the wins and keeps his ratios solid (which he will), he'll make a run for the Cy Young.