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Thu, January 17, 2008
By FREE PRESS NEWS SERVICES
DODGER SCHMIDT RECOVERS
Los Angeles
Dodgers general manager Ned Colletti delivered an encouraging report yesterday on pitcher Jason Schmidt, limited to six starts
last year before undergoing season-ending shoulder surgery. "If he continues to progress, there's a great chance
he'll be ready to go (when the season begins)," Colletti said. "We've had nothing to discourage us."
The 34-year-old right-hander was 1-4 with a 6.31 ERA last season before undergoing surgery June 20 to repair an inflamed bursa,
a torn labrum and a frayed biceps tendon in his right shoulder.
Sportsprospectminer.com: Certainly that’s good news but before you run out and draft Schmidt a word of caution. He had a lot of structural damage in that shoulder and anytime there is that much damage to a pitcher’s shoulder it requires not only a complicated surgery but involves a complicated rehab. Since his great 2004 season (18 wins, 1.08 WHIP and 251K’s) Schmidt’s velocity has been dropping (resulting in more fly balls, home runs and less strikeouts) this trend started while he was in San Francisco and was still healthy. Even if he can reach full strength by the second half of the season (unlikely) it is very doubtful that he will be more than a pitch-or-ditch type pitcher for your fantasy team. The Dodgers have to be patient you do not. Pass on Schmidt for 2008.
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
By Darryl Houston Smith
A further update of my "How GM Colletti can make the Dodgers Better" list. Best team in the NL? NL West?
Orange County? The Dodgers have a long checklist of items to get through before they can challenge the Angels at this point.
How to make the Dodgers better?
1. Sign Joe Torre – We need a great manager in order to become a great team.
DONE
2. Sign Don Mattingly and Larry Bowa. Two more coaches who hate losing. DONE
3. Sign Dr. Charles
Steinberg – We need a great spin master and Steinberg is one of the best PR men in the business. He had a big hand in
making the Red Sox Nation brand what it is today. DONE
4. Trade for a hitter named Miguel. Yes, the one with the
ever expanding waistline. Get me Miguel Cabrera - he is still only 24 and we don’t have to give away the farm to get
him. Matt Kemp, Andy LaRoche and a pitcher not named Clayton should be enough to get this deal done. So GM Colletti make it
happen. -NEVER GOT CLOSE (Marlins wanted too much).
5. Once we get him in blue assign him his own fitness guru
– we gotta keep this guy out of the cheeseburger joints. I think Penny’s fruit inspired diet might be useful guide
for the folks at Casa Cabrera’s. Seriously word is he is embarrassed at his fat body and is working like a terror to
get back in shape. NEVER GOT CLOSE (Tigers to bar him from local Pizza joints).
6. Kirk Gibson is not coming back
but Aaron Rowand is the modern version. Sign him and get some fire back on this team. Andruw Jones would also work, but both
of these guys are 30 so let’s not go overboard. Memo to GM Colletti – 2 year deals for 30 year old centerfielders.
- DONE Andruw Jones is here for 2 years.
7. Fourth starter – this spot has been a black hole get me someone
from Japan that can take the mound 28 times a year that’s all I ask. Hiroki Kuroda is the guy. Memo to GM Colletti don’t
let this guy end up in Arizona. - DONE Hiroki Kuroda reportedly informed the Hiroshima Carp on Tuesday night that he planned
to sign with the Dodgers.
8. Do not give GM Colletti the company VISA card again – EVER - not after last
years $125 million spending spree for 5 lackluster veterans – Schmidt, Wolf, Pierre, Garciaparra and Gonzalez. Memo
to GM Colletti 1 or 2 free agents a year sure but not 5!
9. Build this team up by drafting and trading well. Not
by blowing wads of cash on players well past their sell by dates.
2007 LOS ANGELES DODGERS SEASON PREVIEW
By Darryl Houston Smith
2006 finish: 88-74, 2nd
place in NL West by tie-breaker behind San Diego Padres; Lost division series to the New York Mets.
Manager: Grady Little (2nd year with Dodgers: 88-74;
Overall: 276-210)
Notable Arrivals: RHP
Jason Schmidt, CF Juan Pierre, LF Luis Gonzalez, LHP Randy Wolf, C Mike Lieberthal, RHP Rudy Seanez, RHP Chin-Hui Tsao.
Dodger owner Frank McCourt put his money on the line this winter in an all out effort to bring a championship back
to LA and should be commended for his boldness. He spent $109.5 Million for Pierre, Schmidt and Nomar alone.
Notable Departures: OF J.D. Drew, RHP
Greg Maddux, IF Julio Lugo, RHP Eric Gagne, OF Kenny Lofton, C Toby Hall, RHP Aaron Sele, RHP Franquelis Osoria, C Einar Diaz,
IF Oscar Robles. In truth we never saw the real JD Drew or Julio Lugo due to injuries they should do well
in Boston (if they can regain their health). Greg Maddux and Kenny Lofton’s professionalism will
be missed but it is time to move forward with younger players. Eric Gagne has signed with the Rangers and
will be missed but in truth he hasn’t been the same since 2004 but for three years he was simply amazing (152 saves
during 2002-2004 with a 2003 Cy Young in the bag as well). He is only 31 but has to be considered a low-tier
#2 closer at best now.
Rotation: RHP Jason Schmidt, RHP Derek Lowe, RHP Brad Penny, LHP Randy Wolf, and RHP Chad Billingsley with LHP Hong-Chih
Kuo, and LHP Mark Hendrickson in reserve.
Relievers: Closer: RHP Takashi Saito; Setup men: RHP Jonathan Broxton, RHP Brett Tomko, RHP Elmer Dessens, RHP Yhency Brozoban, LHP Joe Beimel, LHP Tim Hamulack, LHP Eric Stultz, RHP D.J. Houlton, and RHP Chin-Hui Tsao.
Regulars: SS Rafael Furcal, CF Juan Pierre, 1B Nomar
Garciaparra, 2B Jeff Kent, LF Luis Gonzalez, C Russell Martin, 3B Wilson Betemit, and RF Andre Ethier.
Role players: C Mike Lieberthal, 1B/OF James Loney,
1B/3B Olmedo Saenz, IF Ramon Martinez.
Non-Roster invitees: LHP’s Scott Elbert and Matt White, RHP’s Joe Mays, Jonathan Meloan,
Rudy Seanez ,Travis Smith and Dario Vergas. Catchers; A.J. Ellis ,Ken Huckaby, Sandy
Martinez and Kelly Stinnett. Infielders: Tony Abreu, Chin Lung Hu, Damian Jackson, Fernando Tatis.
Outfielders: Larry Bigbie and Choo Freeman.
Rotisserie sleepers: Randy Wolf is healthy again after two injury-interrupted seasons and is ready and raring to go.
Remember in 2003 this guy was 16-10 and tossed 200 innings with a 4.23 ERA. The ex-Pepperdine star
is going to make quite an impact in 2007. Look for him to make a solid #3 starter. Applications
for the new Wolf Pack are now being accepted. In and Out Burgers lookout the Wolfman is back in town
by the way he likes his fries “Animal Style”. Let’s just hope he does not pick up the
weight dropped by they newly svelte Brad Penny.. Mr. Penny has reported to camp in great shape he lost
15 pounds over the winter due to a new based fruit diet. Penny has always had #1 stuff but has had trouble
staying healthy the weight loss might help if so he will make an excellent #2 for your roto staff.
The Dish:
The top of the order of Furcal and Pierre should be lethal and produce over 200 runs scored and around 90 steals. Look for the Dodgers to be a very explosive speed based club a lot like the Cardinals of the late 80’s who were led by Vince Coleman and Willie McGee. They may not be that good but they are going to give opposing NL pitchers fits all season long.
The 3-4-5 would have been amazing six seasons ago but hopefully Nomar, Kent and Gonzalez can remain healthy
enough to play 140 games apiece. Yes, it’s a long shot but if they falter look for Matt Kemp and
James Loney to be tossed into the mix.
The bottom third of the line-up includes Andre Ethier, Russell Martin and Wilson Betemit means that there are no easy outs
1-8. Look for the Dodgers to score a ton of runs.
The pitching staff could be the class of the league and should be good enough for the Dodgers to
challenge
for the National League title. In a short series they could be very tough to beat.
Predicted finish: 92-71, 1st place