Pitchers – Fansmanship https://www.fansmanship.com For the fans by the fans Fri, 12 Mar 2021 03:58:36 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=4.7.29 For the fans by the fans Pitchers – Fansmanship fansmanship.com For the fans by the fans Pitchers – Fansmanship http://www.fansmanship.com/wp-content/uploads/powerpress/Favicon1400x1400-1.jpg https://www.fansmanship.com San Luis Obispo, CA Weekly-ish Exploring some random guys on the Dodgers’ 40-man roster – Pitchers Edition https://www.fansmanship.com/exploring-some-random-guys-on-the-dodgers-40-man-roster-pitchers-edition/ https://www.fansmanship.com/exploring-some-random-guys-on-the-dodgers-40-man-roster-pitchers-edition/#respond Wed, 28 Jan 2015 19:59:42 +0000 http://www.fansmanship.com/?p=16437 We all know most of the guys who we’ll see on the field for the Dodgers this year, but it’s probably a good time of the year to review the 40-man roster, especially those players who don’t have numbers listed. First, let’s go over some random pitchers. Staying in line with a theme of financial […]]]>

We all know most of the guys who we’ll see on the field for the Dodgers this year, but it’s probably a good time of the year to review the 40-man roster, especially those players who don’t have numbers listed.

First, let’s go over some random pitchers. Staying in line with a theme of financial and organizational flexibility, the Dodgers didn’t go after big-name starters like Max Scherzer and James Shields this off-season. That said, they do have a lot of relative unknowns who could make an impact both in spot-starts and in relief this upcoming season. Here are four guys you may not know much about.

Yimi Garcia

Garcia saw a little time with the Dodgers last year. In just eight games and just ten innings, he posted an ERA of 1.80. The righty also posted a 3.10 ERA and a 1.25 WHIP in Albuquerque, where he spent most of the season.

If the Dodgers are looking for some real bullpen help this season, Garcia could be a part of that. At some point.

Here’s a profile of Garcia from Eric Stephen at TrueBlueLA that was posted almost a year ago.

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Mike Bolsinger

Bolsinger spent last season with the Diamondbacks, where he started nine games and wasn’t very good. The Dodgers saw enough in him to pick him up in the offseason. Presumably, he’s someone who can provide a few starts and, hopefully for Dodger fans, give the team a chance to win.

They got him from a division rival for a song, which would make any positive contribution he makes even more satisfying for fans who love to see that Arizona team twist in the wind. Depth, depth, flexibility, depth.

Chris Hatcher

Hatcher is a relief pitcher with four years of experience with the Marlins, though only one of them can really be classified as “good.” Last season, he pitched 56 decent innings and managed a K/BB ratio of more than 4/1. Hatcher’s addition should also help the Dodgers’ bullpen depth, though nothing is ever guaranteed when it comes to brining in relief pitchers.

Hatcher is 30 years old and is a converted catcher like his new bullpen-mate Kenley Jansen. He made the news last year when he was suspended for fighting a minor league teammate. Hatcher at-worst interesting and at-best like a character out of the bullpen who the Dodgers and their fans could really grow to depend on this year.

Adam Liberatore

Liberatore was drafted by the Andrew Friedman-led Rays organization and has yet to see the big leagues. At AAA Durham last season, he put up a .892 WHIP and 1.66 ERA. He is a left-handed relief pitcher with presumably good stuff, which is always a commodity one would like to have. It’s a little odd that Liberatore will be 28 this year and hasn’t seen the big leagues with numbers like he had.

Liberatore has a Tommy John surgery in his history, but it didn’t seem to affect his performance in the minors last year. Perhaps this is the season and the team for him to finally make it to the big-time, where he could be very effective — especially against left-handed hitters.

 

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Note to Dodger fans: get used to this efficiency thing https://www.fansmanship.com/note-to-dodger-fans-get-used-to-this-efficiency-thing/ https://www.fansmanship.com/note-to-dodger-fans-get-used-to-this-efficiency-thing/#comments Mon, 05 Jan 2015 15:33:52 +0000 http://www.fansmanship.com/?p=16227 Having Max Scherzer or James Shields would make the Dodgers’ staff amazing. Think about it. Kershaw, Greinke, Scherzer, Ryu, and then Anderson/McCarthy splitting the number 5 role. It’s a dream. But it’s an inefficient one, at least according to Buster Olney. Scherzer is asking for a $200 million contract. The Dodgers’ rotation already has five […]]]>

Having Max Scherzer or James Shields would make the Dodgers’ staff amazing. Think about it. Kershaw, Greinke, Scherzer, Ryu, and then Anderson/McCarthy splitting the number 5 role.

It’s a dream.

Adding a pitcher like Scherzer to the Dodgers' already stacked-staff would be a dream. There are probably better ways to spend their money though. By Keith Allison from Hanover, MD, USA, via Wikimedia Commons

Adding a pitcher like Scherzer to the Dodgers’ already stacked-staff would be a dream. There are probably better ways to spend their money though. By Keith Allison from Hanover, MD, USA, via Wikimedia Commons

But it’s an inefficient one, at least according to Buster Olney. Scherzer is asking for a $200 million contract. The Dodgers’ rotation already has five starters. Also, think about what you could get for $200 million.

Here is a list of free agents at the end of 2015 (click here to see who’s still left for 2014).

Interesting guys left for this season include relief pitchers like Joba Chamberlain and Phil Coke. Even with some offseason moves, you can never have enough bullpen depth. While Scherzer is definitely the highest profile name out there and there is a significant drop in talent after Shields.

Notice that, while Zack Greinke is on the 2015 list, so are some other players that could be interesting. Ben Zobrist has history with Andrew Friedman. Ian Desmond will be a 30 year-old shortstop if Corey Seager needs to move to third base to replace Juan Uribe.

As far as pitching, things could get really interesting. If Greinke opts out, they’d have an interesting decision to make on him. Other guys could be available too, including Clay Bucholz, Yovani Gallardo, Rick Porcello, David Price, John Lackey, Jordan Zimmerman, and Scott Kazmir, to name a few. With Price, Gallardo, and Zimmerman at the top of this list, a fan’s mind can wander. While Price is the only one on this list that would stack-up with Zack in my mind, a team like the Dodgers with money to spend could really think about saddling up to the buffet and continuing to add solid pitching depth — with or without Greinke.

For the price of Scherzer, perhaps the Dodgers can get a number of good years Greinke has left and still have enough left over for one of the other pitchers on next year’s list or someone like Desmond or Zobrist to play key roles.

Andrew Friedman’s one constant since he took over has been to make the Dodgers a more nimble organization that can operate with less restrictions and lots of flexibility when it comes to making moves. While signing Scherzer would be really, really fun, it would go against this trend. It wouldn’t be efficient.

Then again, isn’t Friedman the master of market inefficiencies?

 

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