From: frisbee@jpl-devvax.jpl.nasa.gov (Tyler Brown)
Subject: re: WHAT SHOULD THE DODGERS DO???
Organization: Jet Propulsion Laboratory (NASA)
Distribution: na
Date: Fri, 24 Jul 1992 18:47:54 GMT

In article 77204 of rec.sport.baseball
stown@pyramid.COM (Scott Townsend)writes:

>Well, it has become very apparent that the Dodgers of 1992 are having
>a very, bad year, and it will probably not get much better this year. 

Agreed.

>
>... more intro stuff...
>
>INFIELD
>=======
>
>1B - This position looks like the most solid on the squad. Karros seems to
>      be fitting in well and is doing very well for a rookie. I would hope
>      that he is left alone and protected in the upcoming draft. He has been
>      truly one of the bright spots of this season.
>

Agreed, but I'd like to see a decent sophomore year before I write him into the
lineup for the next 15 years. I seem to remember bright starts for such
luminaries as Greg Brock and Mike Marshall...

>2B  - DISASTER CITY!!! The Dodgers have no one on the roster who can play
>      this position at the major league level. Sharperson and Harris are
>       both above average hitters, but both of them do not have a clue as
>      to how to play this position. The errors that they make in the game
>       (both those that are recorded and those that are not) more than
>      negate their offensive output. Samuel is alittle bit better at fielding
>      but I feel that he is very overpayed for what little he does. 
>      OPTIONS: Bring up somebody from the farm or try to trade or buy a decent
>               fielding player.
>
> (more stuff deleted)
>

Agreed.

>SS -   This is another one of the bright spots on this year's team. Offerman
>	appears to have gotten over his nervousness and apprehensions of
>	playing in the big leagues, and is now playing much better. His hitting
>	is getting better all the time, and the errors he commits in the field
>	are becoming less and less. He is our shortshop , and should be
>	protected in the draft.
>

Agreed.

>3B -   ANOTHER BIG PROBLEM !! We don't seem to have anybody who can play this
>	position well everyday. Sharperson is OK somedays, and other days he is
>        terrible. Perhaps if he was to play 3B everyday he might just learn
>	 how to play the position. Sharperson's bat is one of thge best on the
>
>	team, and for that reason I think that he needs to be in the lineup.
>	Perhaps extensive work with him in the off season can teach him the
>	necessary skills. Hansen does not have the arnm to play 3B and he
>	is hitting very poor. I feel that he belongs back in AAA. I think that
>	the DOdgers should give both the AA and AAA third baseman's a chance
>	to make the 1993 team.
>

Agreed.

>C  -    Hernandez all the way. Soscia should be relegated to the back up spot.
>	Mike has given a lot to the team. But he no longer has it. He can't
>	throw anybody out at second, and is not starting to make many mental
>	errors. Hernandez is not perfect, but he is a major leaguer, and he
>	will get much better as he gets more playing time.
>

And you were doing so well! This is where the drugs kick in. Hernandez is
at best a backup Catcher. To keep or not keep Scioscia is the question. If
you compare his offensive numbers with others around the league, they're about
average. There is no question his arm strength has fallen off, but his handling
of pitchers is still superior. I'd rather bring up Piazza and see if he can
play next year with Scioscia as a backup.

>OUTFIELD
>========
>LF      Eric Davis has been a major disappointment. Cincinatti fans on this
>	net predicted that Eric would miss many games for the Dodgers. THEY
>	WERE RIGHT!! The guy is agreat ballplayer, but he has done little to
>	help the Dodgers. I would suggest trading him for several young
>	promising stars. The teams greatest needs are at 2B and pitching. 
>	Maybe he will suddenly get well and start playing to his potential.
>	It's a gamble to keep him and I would opt for  a trade.

Agreed on the analysis. Disagree on his value in trade. What team would give
SEVERAL promising stars for a question mark? OK, maybe the Cubs, except they
no longer HAVE any promising stars (another subject)... In short, like so many
Dodgers, Eric is worth more ON the team than he is in trade value. Keep him.

>
>CF      Brett is now hitting above 300!! He seems to have really picked up
>	his game since Offerman started leading off. He his a pretty reliable
>	player. He probably has 1 or 2 more good years left. My recommendation
>	would be to keep him and protect him.
>

Agreed.

>RF      Well Daryl is on the DL again. It appears that he need surgery. Back
>	surgery is a very risky thing, and Straw seems to want to avoid it.
>	But, he is not getting better. I think the only chance for him is to
>	get the surgery done, and then he may be able to play like he did when
>	he was with the METS. Straw is a big question mark. I would opt for not
>	protecting him in the draft and give that gamble to somebody else, or
>	try to trade him for a young, healthy outfielder and/or pitcher.

Great if you can do it (see above).

>PITCHING
>========
>	Pitching has historically been one of the graet strengths
>	Ramon - He has lost it. It appears that something is wrong with his 
>	        arm or his shoulder. He probably needs surgery , and then
>	        lots of rehab. Send down to minors until he is ready to 
>		pitch well again

This is a widely believed point of view. However, recently there was an article
in a local newspaper to the effect that Orel sat down with Ramon and went over
tapes of 1990 Ramon vs. 1992 Ramon, and discovered a mechanical flaw. Ramon 
immediately went out and pitched a 3 hitter. He got slugged the game after that,
but mechanical flaws don't just completely disappear overnight. Ramon has
repeatably stated that he is not injured. Yes, it is possible that we have
another Fernando (a pitcher that refuses to admit he's injured), but perhaps not.
Don't write off Ramon yet. I think there's at least a 50-50 chance that he'll
return to form this year!

>	Candiotti - Most batters are figuring him out by the 5th inning. He
>		    is not worth keeping. Do not protect in draft.
>

You're kidding... right? This guy is the absolute number #1 ace the Dodgers have!!!
You are perhaps thinking of some other pitcher that begins with "C". Candelaria?
Crews? Nope. Plain vanilla wrong. Number one on the protected list. Go check
that presciption.

>        Ojeda    - Looks much better this year. Protect in draft.
>

Maybe you confused the last two pitchers. If you exchange the names "Ojeda"
and "Candiotti" on the two comments above, they become closer to the truth.
Dump this guy like toxic waste. Put a fork in him, he's done...

>        Gross,Howell,Crews,McDowell - All over the hill. Don't protect
>                                       any of them
>

McDowell may have some utility as a setup man, but I agree with the rest.

>Pitching Summary. Not much on the 1992 team. Time to bring up the best from
>                   AAA and a quality YOUNG pitcher from another team if
>                   available.

Who's gonig to trade the Dodgers a "quality" young pitcher? The Dodgers actually
have many quality young pitchers in their minors. OK, they're unproven, but
who's going to trade you an Avery or a Benes? Nobody. Quality young arms are
at a premium. Stick with Orel, Ramon, and Candiotti, and bring up several
Albuquerque farmhands to battle for the last two slots.

>Well, I've rambled on quite a bit. Let me hear your ideas. This season is
>very, forgettable, but with a little luck and a lot of smarts the Dodgers
>could be in the 1993 pennant race!!!!!!!!
>

Maybe '94...

>Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!!!!
>
>Scott	 = 


		frisbee@devvax.jpl.nasa.gov