What Spring Training shows us….

[garyd4sf]

Not much…..we did get a glance at newbies McCutcheon, AJax and Longoria and saw maybe 1-2 new faces in Holland and Duggar. otherwise kind of zilch. Lets take a look how the best team and worst team in the West fared so far this spring…..The Dodgers are 13-13 and the Giants 12-14.



A comparison of starting hitters and SP and RP pitchers is as follows for the Spring…

Catcher: Posey .545 1hr-5 RBI (nursed an injury)---Grandal .333 5 HR 13 RBI. Grandal can hit HRs.

First base: Belt .400 3hr-11 RBI---Bellinger .263 3 HR 7 RBI.

Second base Panik ..300 2 HR 6 RBI---. Forsythe 357 2 HR 6 RBI

Shortstop: Crawford .341 0hr-5 RBI ---Seager .176 1 HR 6 RBI.

Third base: Longoria .364 1hr-4 RBI ---Turner .333 2 HR 3 RBI… Wrist injury- out 1 month or longer

Left Field: Pence.268 2hr-8 RBI ---Pederson.178 1 HR 2 RBI.

Center field: A Jackson .333 0hr-4 RBI ---Taylor .308 1 HR 6 RBI.

Right field: McCutcheon .3141hr-7 RBI ---Puig .289 0 HR 3 RBI.



Starting Pitcher: Bumgarner 14 IP 2.89 ERA--- Kershaw 14.2 IP 0.00

Starting Pitcher: Cueto 9.1 IP 5.79 ERA--- Hill 12.1 IP 2.25

Starting Pitcher: Smardjia 11 IP 10.64 ERA--- Wood 12.1 IP 2.92

Starting Pitcher: Blach 17.1 IP 3.63 ERA--- Maeda 12.1 IP 2.89

Starting Pitcher: Stanton 16.1 IP 3.86 ERA--- Ryu 5.2 IP 14.23



Relief Pitching: Melancon 3. IP 7.00---- Jansen 3 IP 0.00

Relief Pitching: Gearin 7. IP 1.13---- Fields 6.2 IP 6.75

Relief Pitching: Strickland 4.1. IP 0.00---- Baez 5.2 IP 6.35

Relief Pitching: Dyson 7 IP 12.86---- Alexander 6.2 IP 6.75



This isn't scientific but does show that teams struggle in the spring. Some of this is how they manipulate personnel. Some on just bad outings. Some experiment more. The Dodgers here are also worried about the Starting pitching.

[rog]

I think generally speaking the advantage goes to the hitters. It takes them less time to get ready, and it's probably a greater advantage to them to be facing lesser pitching than it is for the pitchers to be facing lesser hitters.

One thing this points out too is that players' performances sometimes vary mightily from month to month.

[rog]

His stats are not unsurprisingly (since he is simply trying to make the Dodgers' roster) not listed here, but Chargois has a 1.29 ERA and a 0.71 WHIP this spring with nine strikeouts and three walks in seven innings. I really wish the Giants had picked him up on waivers, although his arm continues to be a risk. But he has an option and is making the minimum. Just the type of pitcher to take a gamble on.

[rog]

If I were the Dodgers, I wouldn't be worried about the rotation. Four of the five starters have had fine springs, and Ryu will likely get things going. He's got a 3.41 career ERA.

I also think that while he pitched very poorly after a September callup, Walker Buehler could step in. In his one start this spring, the 23-year-old power pitcher struck out seven in four shutout innings, giving up a hit and a walk.

The Dodgers are just loaded, although I did see a projection today that had them struggling to win 90 games. Matt Kemp is apparently going to make the roster. I believe he's lost a lot of weight.

[rog]

The ball carries a long way in Arizona, and the breaking pitches don't break as much.

[sfgdood]

I'm sure they aren't worried a bit. When was it that ST numbers began counting for more than just practice? I don't remember it.

[garyd4sf]

Mar 23, 2018 1:21:09 GMT -5 sfgdood said:

I'm sure they aren't worried a bit. When was it that ST numbers began counting for more than just practice? I don't remember it.

If you are stating that about my comment re. LA Dodger pitching the comment was made by serval Dodger fans and local newspapers. Not  a big deal at this time but the loss in the world series shook a lot of fans here in SoCal. 

[rog]

Sounds like the Dodgers fans are a little spoiled.

[sfgdood]

or just plain obnoxious