With lots of talk about the uncertainty surrounding Brett Anderson’s ability to stay healthy, one has to wonder: Who do the Dodgers have in the minor leagues to back him up?

Well, one option is an 18 year-old in Julio Urias, who got a ton of buzz last year. That’s pretty young to be throwing a kid into the mix though, and we probably won’t be seeing him at Chavez Ravine for many moons. Grant Holmes is also highly-ranked by MLB.com, but Holmes is the same age as Urias and unlikely to see the majors for some time.

The more I looked at the list, the more the answer became abundantly clear which of the the Dodgers’ farmhands should be getting ready to make the next step. The answer, of course, is Zach Lee.

I’ll cue my best Jerry Seinfeld impression here:

What’s the deal with Zach Lee?

Amid all the hubbub this offseason, Zach Lee has become an enigmatic part of the Dodgers’ system. By Dustin Nosler via Flikr

Two years ago, Lee was the best pitcher the farm system had to offer. He just needed more seasoning, or so I seem to remember having read.

Before last season, people thought he was a legitimate contender for the fifth spot in the rotation. Dustin Nosler wrote this before last season started about circumstances that would bring him to the majors last season. Here’s a fun interview Lee gave that Nosler also posted a link to.

Lee ended up spending his entire season in the Pacific Coast League, which consists of a number of ballparks that play like Coors Field. It’s a pitcher’s worst nightmare, but Lee was 22 and due to be promoted. In 2014, Lee pitched more professional innings than he ever has (over 150), but was kind of shelled. I’ll let you compare his numbers to previous seasons:

Lee’s minor League Statistics

You can see that, while Lee was in a tougher league, it wasn’t just balls in play that did a number on him. For whatever reason, his K/9 fell from 8.3 to 5.8 and his BB/9 rose 2.2 to 3.2. His ERA mushroomed from 3.22 to 5.38. A WHIP that went from the 1.1’s to over 1.5 is also not great news for Dodger fans.

So, while Lee clearly regressed some last season, what does it mean for his big-league prospects. After all, that’s all that matters when it comes down to it.

Anybody who thought Lee was going to be a legit top-3 guy in the rotation is probably going to be disappointed whenever he does get called-up.

The PCL does a number on pitchers. Sometimes, it has a similar effect to what pitching in Colorado does at the Major League level. Pitchers who are mentally tough make an adjustment and find ways to get outs.

A negative Nelly would probably say that last season might have permanently damaged Lee’s psyche, if not something about his approach or mechanics. Truthfully, he may never again be the kind of prospect or major league pitcher fans hoped for a few years ago.

A more optimistic person — and I consider myself an optimist — might look at it this way. Playing in the PCL for the first time can be daunting for a pitching prospect. While it’s possible he could have just lost something, what’s more likely is that Lee will simply regress to whatever his true talent level is. Which is to say, he’s probably better than he showed last season.

Depth at starting pitcher is something that any contender needs. Perhaps the Dodgers’ front office isn’t phased by Lee’s 2014. Confidence in Lee bouncing back and being a viable rotation guy could be a viable reason for the team not making any additional moves for starting pitching. It’s why I’ve been encouraging my Dodger fan friends to take a deep breath, and to be a little patient through the Winter.

Maybe it’s just the optimist in me talking and, come May or June, the rose-colored glasses I still see Lee through will be shattered.

Either way, can we all agree — it’s finally time to see what Lee can or can’t do this season?

Chris Jackson likes baseball and beer. He even talked about the microbrew scene in Albuquerque, which is apparently substantial.

Albuquerque. It’s the title of one of my favorite Weird Al Yankovic songs and, more importantly, the location of the Los Angeles Dodgers’ AAA team, the Albuquerque Isotopes.

That’s where Chris Jackson comes in. No, basketball fans, I’m not talking about the mid-90’s sharpshooter who changed his name to Mahmoud Abdul Rauf. I’m talking about the Albuquerque-based baseball writer of the same name. Jackson grew up in Albuquerque, worked in Los Angeles, and is now the baseball reporter for the Albuquerque Examiner. Jackson spent his formative years as a fan of the Albuquerque Dukes (the Dodgers’ former AAA affiliate) and told us the story of how Albuquerque lost and then regained their minor league franchise and why they aren’t called the Dukes anymore.

He also regaled me with stories about some of his favorite Dukes and Isotopes of the past, the significance of Billy Ashley and the last Albuquerque team to win a PCL title, and the mentality of sports fans in the city of Albuquerque.Do you know why Zach Lee and other top-level minor league pitchers aren’t often sent to the Isotopes? You will after you listen. Most interestingly for me, Jackson makes connections between current Dodger prospects like Dee Gordon and Yasiel Puig.

You can follow Chris Jackson @topeswriter on twitter.

Hope you enjoy. Leave any comments you have below.

According to a recent tweet by Jon Morosi of Fox Sports News, the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim have the piece to lure Cole Hamels away from the Phillies.  

With Victorino headed for free agency, Bourjos likely would intrigue the #Phillies in any Hamels talks.

— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) July 5, 2012

A move that makes the speedy 25 year-old Bourjos all the more alluring from a trade standpoint, considering Cole Hamels and starting centerfielder, Shane Victorino’s, looming free agencies. 

Boujos is clearly the Angels’ most movable player right now for a myriad of reasons. He’s young  and cheap — signed through 2014 on a rookie level contract — and has been replaced by the emergence of Mike Trout. Through 63 games Bourjos is hitting just .233 despite an impressive debut last season.  Despite his slow start to the season, he has tremendous offensive upside coupled with a gold glove in the outfield.

The question is whether or not the Angels have the ability to realistically ink Hamels long-term while solidifying  Trout and Mark Trumbo as the franchise faces. Hamels will seek a long-term contract worth at least $20 million per season. While I look forward to the concept of slotting him third of fourth in a rotation abounding with lock-down guys like Jared Weaver, Dan Haren and C.J Wilson, I’m uncertain as to how prudent signing another mega contract would be.

Despite Ervin Santana’s inconsistency in the fourth slot in the rotation, the 29 year-old has historically been a second half pitcher. Last year, he started 1-9 in the first half and finished 10-3 with a low two era and a no hitter in late July.  Signed through 2013 the Halos have another year to assess whether or not Santana is worth another three to five year contract extension at his affordable 11.2 million dollar rate.

I would welcome a move only if the Angels can package Santana and either Maicer Izturis or Alberto Callaspo alongside Bourjos in exchange for Hamels. But all the Hamels talk has been speculation without word from the Halos camp regarding Bourjos’ future in Anaheim.

At the moment, according to this article by Ken Rosenthal, the Angels are unwilling to part with Bourjos because of his future as a major team building block and Garret Richards, who is a solid low-cost option at the bottom of the rotation. Angels’ General Manager Jerry DiPoto is thinking not only about the team now but the team in the near future when big names like Torii Hunter, Vernon Wells and perhaps Santana, come off the books.  Shoring up their long-term ability to retain Trout and Trumbo alongside future hall-of-famer Pujols and a top-five rotation would seem to be the primary goal at this point.

Considering their 37-19 record over their past 56 games, sitting solid in a wild card slot, and scoring more runs than anybody in baseball right now there really isn’t the need there to make a major move. Hamels would make more sense in a Dodger uniform behind the formidable Clayton Kershaw, to help relieve tension in what is becoming a disturbingly odd season of highs and lows for manager Don Mattingly’s team.

The Dodgers before injuries to Matt Kemp, Andre Ethier, Dee Gordon and Mark Ellis, held the best record in baseball through mid-June. Since then, they have slid into turmoil, slugged by inefficiency at the plate and a rotation plagued by Chad Billingsly’s erratic performances. Currently 1 1/2 games ahead of the surging San Francisco Giants, the Dodgers have a hard road ahead of them if they hope to get themselves into the postseason.

After a deal for first-baseman Carlos Lee fell through early this week, Matt Kemp according to this article remains hopeful. “It’s always good to get people to make your team better,” Kemp said. “I don’t know exactly what people think we need. We did a great job with what we have here. If we get somebody, that’s good. But if we don’t, it keeps going on and we have to keep playing the way we have in the first half.”

But I wonder how Dodger fans must feel. How long will the team sit around and wait for a potato sack at first like James Loney to make a difference? According to Mike Potriello of mikescosciastragicillness.com, fans might be willing to listen to offers for a prospect like right hander Zach Lee, in exchange for a bat like the above average Chase Headley at third.  Which proves just how desperate the Dodger fan base is to get into the postseason now rather than tomorrow.

Both teams have had moody beginnings to the 2012 season, but one is surging and the other is desperately limping just to remain relevent. The Angels are looking for that 4th starter to shore up a small blight while the Dodgers seek a plethora of parts just to keep the engine running. It’s all a matter of how far DiPoto’s team can fly but a desperate matter of how long Colleti’s bunch can keep their heads above water.  And that all goes without saying whether or not Tim Lincecum decides to become Tim Lincecum again.