From: kbos@carina.unm.edu (Kurt Bose "of Biscayzee")
Newsgroups: rec.sport.baseball
Subject: Re: WHAT SHOULD THE DODGERS DO???
Date: 24 Jul 92 20:46:56 GMT
Distribution: usa
Organization: University of New Mexico

In article <182761@pyramid.pyramid.com> stown@pyramid.COM (Scott Townsend) writes:
>
>Below I will post some of my thoughts on what would help. I really
>would like to hear all of your ideas!! Perhaps this way we Dodger fans
>can at least dream a little and get ready for better times in the future.
>
>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.
>
Yes.

>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.
>
Sharperson isn't that bad.  Whatever happened to Greg Smith?? Eric Young looks
good down here.  Despite what Dodger says, I like his chances for next year. I
am more impressed with him than I was with Jose Offerman two years ago.

>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.
>
Of course he will be.  Don't be silly.

>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.
>
Au contraire.  The Hansen I saw had a good arm.  Maybe he's hurt?  FYI, Jeff 
Hamilton is the third baseman in AAA.  Uh...Yeah.

>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.
>
Piazza's better, offensively, at least.  As I've said repeatedly, if Hernandez 
was a lefty, the Dodgers would have a great platoon combination.  As it is, I
think Hernandez needs to go to another team to be useful. Bryan Baar could be
ready in '94, if his mechanics are sound, and Hernandez NEEDS to play every day,
which he won't beginning in '93.

>
>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.
>
"Several young promising stars"? Say, Bret Boone, Roger Salkeld, and Dave
Fleming, right?  Get real.  He's a free agent.  Wait until after the expansion
draft.  Then, if Ashley, Rodriguez, Mondesi, and Goodwin are still around, you
don't have to worry about a trade.  Get the draft pick, and for God's sake, 
DON'T DRAFT A $*&#*&#^*& PITCHER!!!!!

>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.
>
*I* wouldn't protect him.  The expansion clubs would be silly to take him.  If
he *does* get selected, though, I'd sign Davis to a 1 yr. contract to stay and
play CF.

>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.
>
Oh, Straw's only problem is that he's too chickens**t to rehabilitate properly.
Doesn't want surgery, won't go to AAA (Bitter? Oh, a _tad_...).  Tommy needs to
buddy up to him again and cajole him into getting better.

>
>PITCHING
>========
>
>	Pitching has historically been one of the graet strengths of a Dodger
>	team. The 1992 pitching staff is the oldest in the league and appears
>	to be fgading fast.
>
Too bad AAA doesn't seem to be helping.

>Starters
>---------
>	Orel - Presently pitching poorly. Is he still recovering from surgery
>	       or have the hitters finally figured him out. Worth protecting
>		to see if he an pitch well after more time to recover from
>surgery.
>
Agreed.

>	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
>
I really don't know what to do about Ramon.  Is Tommy still letting him pitch
too long in games?

>	Candiotti - Most batters are figuring him out by the 5th inning. He
>		    is not worth keeping. Do not protect in draft.
>
Disagree completely.  From what I've heard, you don't *figure out* knucklers.
(Jimmy Dean, where are you??)  If his knuckler isn't breaking, that's another
story.  He has to be a keeper.

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

>        Gross,Howell,Crews,McDowell - All over the hill. Don't protect
>                                       any of them
>
Agreed, but Howell and McDowell should be kept in the later rounds. (See below.)

>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.
>
<wiping Coca-Cola off screen>

A quality young pitcher like say, Nagy, Guzman, or Mussina?  EVERYONE would like
quality young pitching.  As for AAA, I'm still not impressed.  Kip Gross, Pedro
Martinez (I still don't think he's ready), Pistachio (He might be good, but I 
soured on him the moment he gave up the shot to Coolbaugh on Opening Night), Zak
(the...no, don't say it) Shinall,...they're prospects, but nobody's really
burning things up.  Jim Neidlinger and the Baby Goose (McCullers) are the only
two pitchers that *should* be in LA right now.


-- 
Kurt Bose (as in Daisy, not Rose) - kbos@carina.unm.edu - I'm not the AntiChrist
I AM a Junior Stathead.  Flame me; it's fun!  I'm a shutmouthed, selfless idiot!
Latest Attempted Compiler of the R.S.BB FAQ - Now Accepting Submissions...(hint)
Have you hugged a Dan Gladden fan today? - Dave Rossing : .456/39/132 at Denver!