I guess I did a good job of hiding the World Cup posts on The Griddle.

https://dodgerthoughts.baseballtoaster.com/archives/312854.html

Or maybe have the Marburg virus.

15 - I don't think anyone thinks he's going to throw 98 again, period. I don't think that's even the optimistic standard anymore.

Heard the esteemed Logan While on XM this morning, nothing really newsworthy but he did say that they plan to see how Nick Akins plays this summer before committing to sign him and they know there are signability issues with Alex White but they will follow him this summer also.

They then played a cut of Scott Boras talking to Kevin Kennedy and Rob Dibble on their afternoon show that was taped on Tuesday following Hochevar's selection by KC.

Boras tells them how the Dodgers should have signed Luke because he is better than Jae Seo and how they could have maybe kept Duaner Sanchez, how Luke will be a #2 or #3 guy, that even if they had signed him January, he could have gone to Spring Training and won a job with the MLB club. Finally he says that since the McCourts are still new, they rely on their baseball people and that it is shame that their scouting director did not see the true talent and value of Hochevar.

Logan listened to all of it, called Boras a great spinmaster and that Boras' track record has it share of players who never panned out. While he wishes nothing but the best for Luke, he also added that he was glad that Luke went No. 1 because he does not think they would have gotten Kershaw if KC doesn't take him.

My read of this situation based on everything I have read and now hearing the tone of Logan White's voice when he talks about this is that had Ned bypassed White's recommendation re Hochevar's bonus, White easily could have walked. This really came down to an integrity issue and I just think that Logan White was very disappointed in how the whole thing played out and that he needed the Dodgers to back him and they did.

He also mentioned Ivan DeJesus and Tony Harper, both at Columbus as players to watch.

Neal, he sees Kershaw following Elbert's pattern in the minors. He thinks Mattingly will get a shot at SS but thinks he may end up at 2B.

http://tinyurl.com/qnael

19 - No, I'm not.

That's rather interesting coming from Boras, who tends to play up his clients' abilities beyond belief. I'm surprised he sees the #1 pick in the country as being perhaps only a #3 starter.

But if that doesnt happen, which pitcher does Izturis replace? It'd be a shame if Kuo got sent back down bc he's pitched well since being recalled.

Maybe they'll option Seo and let him start at Vegas. The Mets did that last year.

Thats interesting.
Does Logan White determine how much signing bonus the draft picks deserve, or does the GM do that?

I doubt that Gagne will ever be back to where he was, but he doesn't really have to be the lights-out hard thrower in order to be effective as a closer.

Re: Gagne, I was both impressed and troubled by his performance the other night. Impressed in that he really pitched, using craft and guile. He didn't have the old fastball, but he clearly played on hitters' perception that he had the big heater. But I was troubled because, like a lot of others here, I'm not confident that he'll ever throw that hard again. So what happens when hitters around the league reach the same conclusion?

Boras is not going to be critical of the McCourts or Neddy because he has to deal with them with his MLB talent (Gagne, Drew, to name a few). But he only will deal Logan White in the rare occurence that the Dodgers are in a position to draft one of his players, frankly Hochevar is the first one I can think of in the past several years.

More than that, even. He ranged from 68 to 93 or so. That should be enough of a range to be able to pitch effectively even if he never regains the Gagne fastball.

I'm thinking specifically about 22yr James Loney (2HR in 145 ABs) at AAA Vegas.
20yr old Blake Dewitt- (.702 OPS) at Single A Vero Beach.

I think Loney/Dewitt (if Ned does make a deadline deal), should definitely be on the table. If I were making a list of 15 tradeable/untouchable prospects list, it'd go like this:

Tradeable- Loney, Dewitt, Hu, Repko, LaRoche, Ruggiano, Guzman, Elbert,

Dont Trade: Kemp, Billingsley, Martin Orenduff, Navarro, Aybar, Broxton

I think, the hitters were thrown off the other night, because they were expecting the hard stuff of old. Once they realize he's not throwing as hard, I think they'll figure out Gagne pretty quickly.

All speculation, I know. It'll be interesting to see how it all turns out.

Yeah, I hate those guys who bat .360. Loney obviously needs to get it together.

Dont Trade: Kemp, Billingsley, Martin, LaRoche, Elbert, Broxton, DeWitt

I still think the Grace/Olerund model is appropriate for Loney.

I don't count Navarro because he came from the Yankees.

Of course Mr. and Mrs. Molina put three in MLB all by themselves.

players below AA do not fetch fair values in trades so there is no reason to trade elbert and dewitt right now. there is especially no reason to trade elbert when our pitching depth is so thin. Oh as for Orenduff, you're litte college engine that could isnt huffing and puffing anymore.he hasnt made a start in almost 2 weeks and I fear the worse for his elbow.

I'm not concerned about a 20 yr olds production right now. sorry, let them play the whole year before you go dooming them.

Its more about their entire careers. DeWitt's in his 3rd yr and Loney is in his 5th. They havent distinguished themselves. Loney's ISO is bad, and DeWitt really has struggled at most phases for being a 1st rd pick.

It doesnt really matter if Orenduff went to college or not. He still has some of the best career peripherals in the entire minor league system. And he's still only 23.

Is Terry Collins ensuring that James Loney is doing regular long toss to keep that fabulous left arm strong and supple? That would be the prudent course, giving Loney a more viable, last-resort fallback to try pitching if the power isn't adequate by age 24.

Its more about their entire careers. DeWitt's in his 3rd yr and Loney is in his 5th. They havent distinguished themselves

this is dewitt's second full year in the minors, if you want to count his time in rookie ball, he did very well (.284/.350/.488). I guess I have more patience then you, but I am not going to put Dewitt in the failure catagorey yet, especially how he hit in hist last 318ABs last year.

It doesnt really matter if Orenduff went to college or not. He still has some of the best career peripherals in the entire minor league system. And he's still only 23.

it does matter and I don't know how you can see that. He has had more pitching experience then most other prospects and that is a huge deal. His carrer peripherals do not tell the whole story because of his FSL tenure, where he was a polished college pitcher against younger competition. If you really want to see his where he true ability lies, look at his AA numbers. They are of a large enough sample size to get an understanding of his ability. And besides having a pretty good K rate, the rest just are not impressive.

Loney has improved from his awful season two years ago, but his numbers as first basemen havent been good enough to play that position in the MLB. His ISO numbers havent improved.

I dont think a .700 OPS is acceptable for any minor league position. Perhaps catcher.

UCS' Kennedy goes to New York Yankees

http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/5678866

Once all the games are over today, I was going to do a recap.

The CS Fullerton-Missouri game doesn't start until 7 and I have a feeling it will be going on long beyond the time I come back from going out tonight.

What about Cruz and Izturis to Boston for Clement? The salaries wouldnt be that far off, and we might not have to throw in too much minor league talent. I'd be willing to take a chance on Matt Clement, I'm not sure if Boston is willing to trade him though.

A comparison could be made to the recent draft a week ago, everyone from BA to Nate thought the Dodgers were on Kershaw and over the weekend Morris popped up too. Sure Mattingly was a surprise but later reports indicated that Dodgers were among the teams interested.

The lineup is up, Matty is out for now, maybe they don't want Kim's motion to throw him off.

Here is an interesting exchange between Neddy and the writer of the LA Times Dodger blog:

BK: How has the game changed over the years?

NC: More players get hurt. Or admit to it. Obviously, the finances of the game have changed drastically, and more power to the player. In some ways, it's changed a lot. And in some ways, you know, it hasn't.

McGwire, Edmonds, Rolen, and perhaps Soriano is next in line...

76 - I don't remember being shocked that we nailed Nomar or Furcal (and I don't think it was a secret that Colletti pursued Giles [unless it was to drive up the price for SD {yeah, I'm ripping off Dwight}]), or that we trade Milton. I'm going totally off memory

Soriano/Pujols/Rolen/Edmonds That would be a killer lineup to have to go through in the playoffs. Their starting pitching isn the best but they still have Mulder/Carpenter capable of being really good pitchers.

No one knew we were going to get Furcal, Tomko, Seo, Baez. And there wasn't even much buzz over Lofton. The talk was very much over other players, like Giles, that Colletti did not end up acquiring.

Garciaparra might have been predicted by someone.

Dont take this as my approval of such a deal, I dont want the prospect-core threatened and I dont want Soriano on a long term deal. But if Bowden's willing to take Repko and Baez, I'll give it a thumbs-up.

thats the thing, what does Bowden want for 2-3 months of soriano? He was asking for Milledge from the Mets for Livan.

Though Cora was 1-100 against him.

http://tinyurl.com/g5nb7

As for Loney and Dewitt....Dewitt is still young, I'm not concerned at all. As for Loney, I don't see him ever being a power hitter. When I think of him as a major leaguer I just think Sean Casey. Nice avg, not much power, great defense...and while that's all fine and dandy, those guys tend to be overvalued and overpaid. I love Sean Casey and all, but 8 mill per? No thanks.

and the thing is, he isn't being absurd by asking for Milledge. Some team is going to give up a heck of a prospect or two for Soriano.

I completely agree with you that we need more pitching...but who do we get? I wouldn't mind Maddux because he probably wouldn't cost much and it at least a solid starter....as for Willis, he's just really overrated to me (and he's killing my fantasy staff)...and from the reports they want an arm and a leg for him. I really can't think of any pitchers out there that I'd be really excited to get.

No Kemp is Coors field? This is madness!

Yeah, but just think how fast Lofton will be in that thin Rocky Mountain air!

I agree with just about everything you said, but I just think with the season Soriano is having that SOMEONE will trade for him. The Rangers were smart when they dealt him a year BEFORE free agency...much like the A's with Mulder.

I mean, if we can land him for Repko and maybe a decent prospect then I'm all about getting him for the stretch run...but if it takes a top prosect then I wouldn't do it, and neither will Ned :)

Unless he's secretly planning to convert Alf to middle relief...

If someone knew the Dodgers were going to sign Furcal more than five days before it was announced, you're going to have to show me evidence.

A couple really obvious ones I can think of are Shawn Green trade and Kevin Brown trade (both involving the Yanks) .

I'm not arguing that Colletti's intentions are obvious, it just seems like some are and some aren't for him and other GMs.