DODGERS NEWS/RUMORS thread

Discussion in 'Los Angeles DODGERS' started by Dodgers99, Oct 28, 2018.

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  1. irish

    irish DSP Staff Member Administrator

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    friedman holding off on hiring a gm for the moment
    probably a good idea actually
    he has experience as a gm, plus the relationships he built while manning the rays
    bringing a new gm in at this point could be awkward for the new hire and potentially cause apprehension from the other gms
    just my 2 cents
     
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  2. ColoradoKidWitGame

    ColoradoKidWitGame DSP Legend Administrator

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    irish likes this.
  3. ColoradoKidWitGame

    ColoradoKidWitGame DSP Legend Administrator

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    Gotta love the Hot Stove, in the last 24 hours we have gotten the top 3 teams on Harper are
    1. Phillies
    2. Dodgers
    3. White Sox

    and a “Bryce Harper has no interest in living in Philly report”. Things seem to be getting somewhat quiet and it may stay that way until the winter meetings are over. There will be rumors galore, but the new thing is to consummate a deal after meetings.
     
  4. irish

    irish DSP Staff Member Administrator

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    just a thought...
    but it might be telling that all the dodgers rumors so far have been [potential] trades
    could lead to one believing we may be looking to improve the team with our excess and [thus] save all our $$$ for harper...
    idk, just throwing it out there
     
  5. Fall Winslow

    Fall Winslow McRib

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    ..further leading many to believe that Philly/NJ guy Trout is ultimately the superstar that will land there in a couple years
     
  6. irish

    irish DSP Staff Member Administrator

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    BREAKING NEWS
    pitcher kelly signs 2 year deal with d'bags











    merrill kelly



    .
     
  7. irish

    irish DSP Staff Member Administrator

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    How much money could be spent in Vegas on free agents?
    by Sarah Langs | ESPN — 5 hours ago

    [​IMG]

    With the winter meetings opening Sunday, free-agent contracts figure to be discussed at a dizzying clip, with proposals -- and cash -- being tossed in every direction.

    There have been 39 free-agent contracts signed for at least $100 million (including this week's deal between Patrick Corbin and the Nationals), with seven the most signed in a single offseason (after the 2015 season).

    There were three free-agent contracts worth at least $100 million signed last offseason, by Eric Hosmer (Padres), Yu Darvish (Cubs) and J.D. Martinez (Red Sox). (Martinez could opt out before his deal hits $100 million.)

    There have been eight free-agent contracts of at least $200 million, most recently those signed by David Price and Zack Greinke in the offseason following the 2015 season. The most $200 million contracts handed out in a single offseason is two: Price and Greinke in the 2015 offseason and Albert Pujols and Prince Fielder in the offseason following 2011.

    What about the $250 million mark? We've heard for a while that Bryce Harper or Manny Machado could get a commitment that high -- or higher. There have been two $250 million contracts handed out to free agents -- and both went to Alex Rodriguez, following the 2000 and 2007 seasons.

    If we widen the net to include all contracts -- not just those given to free agents, but also including extensions to players prior to reaching free agency -- the largest contract by total value in MLB history was the 13-year, $325 million deal given to Giancarlo Stanton following the 2014 season. That's the only $300 million contract in MLB history.

    What about one team handing out two big-money free-agent contracts in the same offseason? There is talk the Phillies would consider doing that this year, but to date there have been only three instances of a team handing out multiple $100 million free-agent contracts in a single offseason. The Yankees following the 2008 season were the first to do it, for CC Sabathia ($161M) and Mark Teixeira ($180M). Then the post-2013 Yankees did so, for Jacoby Ellsbury ($153M) and Masahiro Tanaka ($155M). And the Tigers did it after the 2015 season, for Jordan Zimmermann ($110M) and Justin Upton ($132.75M).

    Having already signed Corbin to a $140 million deal, the Nationals could be in line to match that mark this offseason.

    The most money a team has ever committed in free agency in a single offseason is $471 million by the Yankees following the 2013 season. There have been four instances of a team committing at least $300 million to free-agent contracts in a single offseason: the 2013 Yankees, 2008 Yankees ($441M), 2007 Yankees ($396M) and 2011 Angels ($321M).

    What about Craig Kimbrel? He reportedly is seeking a six-year deal. No free-agent reliever has ever signed a contract of more than five years (Aroldis Chapman, Kenley Jansen, B.J. Ryan).
     
  8. irish

    irish DSP Staff Member Administrator

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    lol "we"
    more (likely) mindless hypothesizing
    but since we're in 3 of the proposedsuggested deals...


    Kluber for Schwarber and more trades we want to see in Vegas
    by Bradford Doolittle and David Schoenfield | ESPN — 7 December 2018

    Trades have dominated the hot stove season so far, and why should that stop in Las Vegas?

    Before the winter meetings begin in Sin City, we identified another wave of big-name players who could be on the move and asked ESPN.com's David Schoenfield and Bradford Doolittle to play general manager in finding a trade fit for every player while also giving you a chance to weigh in on their proposed deals.

    The San Francisco Giants should trade Madison Bumgarner to the ...

    Atlanta Braves for LHP Luiz Gohara and RHP Tristan Beck: The Braves had a solid rotation in 2018 and have a slew of other highly rated pitching prospects on the brink of contributing in the majors, including Mike Soroka, Kyle Wright, Touki Toussaint and Gohara. What the Braves need is that guy you have supreme confidence in for the first game of a playoff series to take the pressure off Mike Foltynewicz, Sean Newcomb and Kevin Gausman.

    Bumgarner's trade value isn't extraordinarily high right now, as his numbers from 2018 indicate some loss of stuff -- a decline in velocity, less movement, lower strikeout rate and higher walk rate -- and the San Francisco Giants might decide to keep the franchise icon rather than trade him for a less-than-stellar prospect package. While the stuff might be down, Bumgarner's rep as a big-game pitcher still makes him an intriguing trade option.

    Gohara is a big Brazilian who is still just 22 years old. He looked good in five late-season starts for the Braves in 2017, but his 2018 was a lost season as he pitched just 19 ⅔ innings for the Braves and posted a 4.94 ERA in 12 Triple-A starts. He has a boom-or-bust element to him, but if everything comes together he has top-of-the-rotation potential. The Braves have the depth to deal Gohara, and the San Francisco Giants should take the risk of hitting the lottery with a high-ceiling lefty. Beck was the Braves' fourth-round pick in 2018 out of Stanford. -- Schoenfield

    Or should the Giants instead trade Bumgarner to the ... ?

    Los Angeles Dodgers
    ... yes, those Los Angeles Dodgers: Valuewise, if you give extra weight to the Dodgers' win-now mandate, it works out just right for L.A. to ship Alex Verdugo north to be a cornerstone of the Giants' transition to a younger, more athletic club, while San Francisco sends their long-time ace to ply his trade in rival territory. Sure, the Dodgers have a good deal of rotation depth, but is there ever too much starting pitching?

    Anyway, the Dodgers have advanced to the World Series the past two years running; for a team trying desperately to make that last step, who better to acquire than the best postseason pitcher of the past decade? A couple of months ago, I probably wouldn't even suggest that the Giants would trade Bumgarner to the Dodgers. But then San Francisco hired former Dodgers GM Farhan Zaidi to run their baseball ops, so all bets are off. -- Doolittle

    The Cleveland Indians should trade Corey Kluber to the ...

    Atlanta Braves
    for Cristian Pache and Touki Toussaint: What, we're not counting on comebacks from Yu Darvish and Tyler Chatwood? I think the Indians can aim higher than Schwarber, who now has over 1,200 plate appearances in the majors and a .228 career average. They should not trade him to one of their AL rivals like the Astros or Yankees. The Braves have seen the Nationals and Mets make big moves, and while Atlanta signed Josh Donaldson, adding a veteran ace to upgrade an already solid rotation makes sense. They can deal from their wealth of young pitchers, and the Indians also get a defense-first center fielder in Pache who is close to the majors. -- Schoenfield

    Chicago Cubs for Kyle Schwarber (and more): With Jon Lester easing into a new chapter of his career, the Cubs need a No. 1 starter and have a deep roster of big-league position players. The Indians have a surplus of top-end starters but are thin at other positions. This is a good match.

    From the Cubs' perspective, you get three years of Kluber's deal (three years, $40.5 million remaining including a couple of club options) which should have all sorts of surplus value. Kluber is as consistent as any pitcher in the big leagues. While he's working on a streak of five straight seasons with over 200 innings pitched, I view that as a proof of durability rather than a red flag. His velocity dropped off a little last season, but as he has increasingly worked in his cutter -- and given up his dynamic curveball -- I'm confident he'll have the arsenal to head up the Chicago rotation for at least the duration of his contract. He's just a special pitcher. Kluber's deal is cheap enough that the Cubs should still be able to bolster their depth via free agency as the winter progresses.

    The Indians' end of this deal begins with Schwarber, but of course, that would just be a jumping off point, especially because the Indians can leverage all of the Kluber suitors against each other. Schwarber at the very least can be counted on to be a three-win player, such as he was last season, with the potential for a lot more. His left-handed power bat is a great fit for Progressive Field, and in the American League the Indians can find work for him in left field, first base and at designated hitter. In addition to Schwarber, the Cubs could add either Ian Happ or Albert Almora Jr., with my presumption being that Cleveland would place a premium on Happ's versatility.

    In cold, hard numbers, this is a fair-value trade, with Cleveland coming out ahead in the long run because they'd be trading Kluber's three controllable years for the combined eight of Schwarber and Happ. But because of the crowded cast of teams that would love to add Kluber, the Cubs might have to add a third piece. -- Doolittle

    Or should the Cubs instead trade Schwarber to the ... ?

    Houston Astros
    for a young pitcher: The Astros need a left-handed hitter. They need a DH. Schwarber can play left field if they want to give Kyle Tucker more time in the minors. The Cubs can trade Schwarber -- opening a spot in left field for Bryce Harper. The Cubs should ask for Cionel Perez or Framber Valdez, both of whom reached the majors last year and could help out in the bullpen or as rotation depth. -- Schoenfield

    The Arizona Diamondbacks should trade Zack Greinke to the ...

    Atlanta Braves:
    According to the Athletic, Greinke has the ability to block trades to half of the teams in the majors, including most of the contending teams that could use him. However, reportedly that list does not include the Braves, and Atlanta could use some additional veteran stability for its rotation. In Greinke's case, all it would cost is a heap of cash. Now that Arizona has traded Paul Goldschmidt, there doesn't seem to be much hope to attach Greinke to another player, unless the D-backs want to eat into their limited roster of good controllable players. So to move Greinke's contract, it'll mean parting with some serious money while lowering their asking price in terms of prospects.

    A team giving extra weight to short-term wins can justify an expectation of getting above-water value from Greinke, provided he maintains around a 3-WAR pace over the duration of his massive contract. However, to make it palatable, I'd want the D-backs to eat around $40 million of Greinke's remaining deal. I'd even throw in a lower-tier prospect for the trouble. -- Doolittle

    Or should the D’backs instead trade Greinke to the ... ?

    Houston Astros:
    Brad is right; the Diamondbacks are going to have eat a large of the $100 million-plus remaining on the final three years of his contract if they want to trade Greinke and get something back in return. The Astros are another team not on Greinke's reported no-trade list, and they need to replace Dallas Keuchel, Charlie Morton and the injured Lance McCullers Jr. in the rotation (assuming they don't re-sign Keuchel or Morton).

    The Astros have some interesting young starter prospects like Josh James, Forrest Whitley and Framber Valdez, but I don't think they'll want three rookies in the rotation. Greinke would give them some veteran certainty and also hedge against losing Justin Verlander, a free agent after 2019. -- Schoenfield

    The Miami Marlins should trade J.T. Realmuto to the ...

    Los Angeles Dodgers
    for a catching prospect and more: Realmuto wants out of the Miami rebuild, and after watching former teammates like Christian Yelich, Giancarlo Stanton and Marcell Ozuna play in meaningful late-season games for their new teams, who can blame him? The Marlins will need a replacement behind the plate, which is why they match up so well with the Dodgers. Los Angeles has both a short-term need behind the plate because of Yasmani Grandal's free agency and excellent depth at the position in their system, with Will Smith and Keibert Ruiz both rating among the top 50 prospects in the majors. Obviously a deal between the two clubs begins there, probably with Smith, with the Dodgers adding a lower-tier prospect and a lottery-pick guy from the low minors. -- Doolittle

    Or should the Marlins instead trade Realmuto to the ... ?

    New York Mets
    for a top prospect and more: Sending Realmuto to the Dodgers makes the most sense -- Dodgers catchers have hit .144/.250/.231 the past two postseasons (and .132/.190/.158 in the World Series) -- but almost every team could use Realmuto, so the Marlins will be flooded with offers. New GM Brodie Van Wagenen has made it clear the Mets are all-in for the immediate future, but somehow, they're still counting on some combo of Kevin Plawecki and Travis d'Arnaud behind the plate. A deal would probably have to start with shortstop Andres Gimenez, now the Mets' top prospect, with a couple secondary pieces (the Mets can throw in Plawecki as well). Trades within the division are rare, but Van Wagenen has already proven he likes the action to make this happen. -- Schoenfield

    The Kansas City Royals should trade Whit Merrifield to the ...

    Los Angeles Dodgers
    for OF Alex Verdugo, LHP Caleb Ferguson and RHP Mitchell White: Kansas City Royals GM Dayton Moore has said he's not going to trade Merrifield, but the second baseman's trade value will never be higher. He's coming off a season in which he hit .304/.367/.438 while leading the AL with 45 steals and 192 hits. He's also entering his age-30 season, however, and by the time Royals are hopefully competitive again he might be 32 or 33. The Dodgers, meanwhile, have had a revolving door at second base, with nine different regulars over the past 11 seasons -- and that doesn't even include Brian Dozier, their 2018 in-season acquisition. Merrifield is under team control for four more seasons and isn't even arbitration-eligible until 2020, so the Dodgers get a player who was worth 5.1 WAR in 2018, won't eat into the payroll and adds an exciting element to their lineup.

    Verdugo would be the key to the trade for the Royals. The young outfielder is regarded as the Dodgers' top prospect, but there isn't an obvious fit for him right now in Los Angeles -- especially with the team also potentially pursuing Bryce Harper in free agency. Verdugo projects as a high-average, line-drive hitter, a perfect fit for the big alleys in Kansas City. Ferguson is a 22-year-old lefty who pitched well out of the bullpen as a rookie in 2018 but flashed starter potential in 2017 at Class A when he fanned 140 in 122 ⅓ innings. White is a hard-throwing righty who pitched in Double-A in 2018 and at least projects as a good bullpen arm if he doesn't make it as a starter. -- Schoenfield

    Or should the Royals instead trade Merrifield to the ... ?

    New York Yankees
    as part of a six-player deal: It's true that there are a lot of second basemen on the free-agent market, and it's true that Merrifield will be playing his age-30 season next year. But this is a guy coming off a five-WAR season who still has another season left before he even becomes arbitration-eligible. Even more than that, Merrifield would help add diversity to the New York attack with his ability to steal bases and make contact. The Yankees could move him around some, but I'd envision him as their everyday second baseman. New York could then move Didi Gregorius to a utility role or trade him once he comes back from his Tommy John rehab, or slide Miguel Andujar to first base and Gleyber Torres to third.

    What the Yankees can offer the Royals is both cash relief and the kind of controllable, MLB-ready young players Kansas City would favor given Moore's preference for a short timeline on his rebuilding effort. The Royals could attach Danny Duffy and Ian Kennedy to Merrifield, along with some cash. The Yankees could send back Clint Frazier, Tyler Wade and pitching prospect Albert Abreu, who has been dropping a bit on the prospect lists but has the upside to entice K.C. to fold some cash into the transaction. Kennedy would be an expensive depth piece, of course, but he did post 1.0 WAR last season and came up through the Yankee system, so he has some familiarity going for him. Duffy is an excellent bounce-back candidate who could deepen the New York rotation.

    The Yanks would be taking on some cash, but Merrifield is a bargain, and Duffy could end up providing surplus value as well for a team angling to keep pace with the Red Sox. Plus, they're the Yankees, and it's only cash. -- Doolittle


    .
     
  9. ColoradoKidWitGame

    ColoradoKidWitGame DSP Legend Administrator

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    Probably, but it does not seem to be stopping the Phillies from going all out for Harper's services.
     
  10. irish

    irish DSP Staff Member Administrator

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    .290/.338/.481 with 21/85 still boggles the mind
    not a big fan of awards
    but comeback player was well earned/deserved


    Dodgers 2018 Player Review: Matt Kemp
    by Matthew Moreno | Dodger Blue — 8 December 2018
    [​IMG]
    Planning to get below the $197 million luxury tax threshold for the 2018 season so as to reset their penalties, the Los Angeles Dodgers reunited with Matt Kemp by completing a five-player trade with the Atlanta Braves.

    Los Angeles received the veteran outfielder in exchange for Charlie Culberson, Adrian Gonzalez, Scott Kazmir, Brandon McCarthy and cash considerations. The financially-motivated deal was beneficial to both clubs.

    Though for Kemp, there was plenty of uncertainty with his future. Dodgers president of baseball operations informed Kemp the team likely planned to move him prior to the start of the 2018 season.

    To little surprise, the Dodgers had difficulty finding a taker for Kemp, who was owed roughly $43 million over the next two seasons. He reported to Spring Training in improved shape and with a positive attitude.

    Kemp had a positive showing and wound up being included on the Opening Day roster. The surprise developments grew from there, as he filled the void in the lineup while Justin Turner was recovering from a fractured left wrist.

    Kemp not only emerged as a key contributor for the Dodgers, he slugged his way to an All-Star Game selection for the first time since 2012. His success story did begin to fade some as Kemp’s production waned in the second half and he became more of platoon player.

    The 34-year-old nonetheless finished the season batting .290/.338/.481 with 21 home runs and 85 RBI over 146 games. The .818 OPS was Kemp’s highest since 2009, and he was part of the Dodgers setting a franchise record with seven players to hit at least 20 home runs in a single season, and their combined mark of 235 as a team.

    Kemp appeared in 13 postseason games, making five stars, and largely scuttling at the plate. He managed just four hits, including a double and home run, in 24 at-bats. The homer came in Kemp’s first career World Series game.

    2018 HIGHLIGHT

    With the Dodgers getting off to a rough start this season, they were forced to make up plenty of ground in the National League West standings. The calendar flipped to September with the Dodgers one game back of first place and facing the Arizona Diamondbacks in the second of a four-game series.

    Kemp electrified Dodger Stadium on Sept. 1 by clubbing a three-run homer off Archie Bradley in the eighth inning to give the Dodgers a decided 3-2 lead. He returned the following afternoon for another tilt with Bradley, and that time delivered a walk-off two-run double.



    Another memorable moment for Kemp this season came when he drove his 1,000th career RBI and hit a home run on his 34th birthday in a win over the San Diego Padres.

    2019 OUTLOOK

    Entering the final year of his contract, Kemp could be a casualty of the glut of outfielders the team has. Beyond that aspect, Kemp earning NL Comeback Player of the Year presumably puts the Dodgers in better position to complete a trade this winter than they were last year.
     
  11. Gebbeth

    Gebbeth DSP Legend

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    Why can’t I post anything?
     
  12. BigDaddyKaine

    BigDaddyKaine DSP Legend

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    Seems to be working...
     
  13. Gebbeth

    Gebbeth DSP Legend

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    I'm getting a "Forbidden" I don't have permission message on some of the threads
     
  14. Gebbeth

    Gebbeth DSP Legend

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    I think its just Irish's post about the horny teacher in the Off Topic thread. I should have known it was due to Irish somehow.
     
  15. irish

    irish DSP Staff Member Administrator

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    let's ask craig
    may have something to do with downloading midget porn
    at least that's what a friend told me
     
  16. ColoradoKidWitGame

    ColoradoKidWitGame DSP Legend Administrator

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    • The Phillies, Yankees and White Sox are said to be the 3 teams most heavily linked to Manny Machado, but Rosenthal is reporting that at least 3 other teams are planning on big presentations to the star SS/3B as well. Most speculation at this time is that the Mets are going to jump into the Harper/Machado sweepstakes now that they have put together the beginnings of a solid lineup.
    • The feeling was that Kyle Seager was likely the next Mariner to go, but it sounds like they have gotten some movement towards a deal that could see them trading Carlos Santana pretty quickly. I could definitely see the Mariners doing a bunch of these bad salary for bad salary swaps where they take on a little worse of a contact, but also get back an interesting prospect. The Astros could be a team to watch for Santana as they are said to want to move Gurriel into the Marwin Gonzalez vacancy and would like to upgrade 1B. With Kyle Tucker apparently ready, they could choose to move on from the mediocre Josh Reddick who the M's could probably flip again. Would not be shocked if the Dodgers have been in contact with the M's about Matt Kemp.
    • Not sure if this was posted already, but the Dodgers are said to be one of the strongest pursuers of UTL Marwin Gonzalez. The super super utility player is coming off of a down season, that was more scarily inline with his career norms making 2017 appear to have been an aberration(son of fucking bitch). This interest makes little to no sense with the better/cheaper options of Enrique Hernandez and Chris Taylor already on the roster. This could signal that the Dodgers are exploring trades of their two most versatile players.
    • That Paul Goldschmidt deal the other day was pretty solid. You are not going to get star prospects for a guy on the last year of his deal and at the position he plays, but the D'Backs did a good job in getting guys that are falling, but still have star upside. The Cards are believed to not being done yet and may still look to add another big piece to their roster. They are expected to ramp up efforts of trading Dexter Fowler who is coming off of an awful season. He was good, but injured a lot the first year, but for some reason those STL fans never really did like him. No idea why that could have been....
    • The Royals were expected to go into a rebuilding mode and consider moving C Salvador Perez, 2B Whit Merrifield and LHP Danny Duffy, two of which were seen as potential Dodgers targets. Them along with the rebuilding White Sox and Twins are all now believed to be reconsidering this path as their division is terrible and the Indians are looking like they may be willing to take a step back to protect themselves financially. If the Indians do choose to move on from Corey Kluber or Trevor Bauer, plus any of the rumored potentials of Jason Kipnis, Edwin Encarnacion and Yonder Alonso, these teams could look to hang on to what they have and add some of the intriguing cheaper options that are out there right now. If this were to happen and we also now have the Padres kicking around the idea that they're contenders, it would muddle up the market a good bit and I could see the Dodgers having to get VERY creative to make improvements(though the domino that starts this all very well could be the Dodgers syncing up a deal with Cleveland).
     
    Last edited: Dec 8, 2018
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  17. VRP

    VRP DSP Legend

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    Trading Taylor and signing Marwin makes no sense to me imma be honest
     
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  18. irish

    irish DSP Staff Member Administrator

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    nice article
    and as anyone around in 1988 will attest...
    holton was a huge part of that championship team
    #stuntmen


    Random Dodger of the Day: Brian Holton
    by Marshall Garvey | Dodgers Nation — 7 December 2018

    [​IMG]

    When you think of the 1988 Dodgers, the names that come to mind instantly are obvious. Gibson and Hershiser lead the pack, followed by Scioscia, Hatcher, Sax, and Orosco. Dempsey and Marshall stick in the mind too, and one of course can’t forget Valenzuela, although his 1988 season was limited by injury.

    Yet, for me, what truly makes the ‘88 squad a special team in baseball history is the far more obscure bulk of the roster. I’m talking about the likes of Jeff Hamilton and Franklin Stubbs, most of which was so mediocre (or downright terrible) that Bob Costas infamously dubbed them “the worst team ever put on the field to play in a World Series game.” It’s one thing for a team to win a World Series with a stacked roster. It’s another to win with a roster that largely looks like it shouldn’t even make the playoffs to begin with.

    As much as I’d love to rhapsodize about all of these obscure names, this piece is meant to shed light on one particular forgotten hero: relief pitcher Brian Holton. While Holton is definitely on the more overshadowed part of the 1988 roster, he was nowhere near mediocre, posting the best ERA of the entire pitching staff that season. My affinity for Holton is evidenced by the fact that he’s currently my Twitter avatar, and in the second installment of our new Random Dodgers series, it’s time to show him some love.

    UNDER THE RADAR

    Now, even the most hallowed championship teams are bound to have their unsung, or even forgotten, members. Even with that in mind, it’s odd how much Holton has slipped through the cracks of our memories. He was not only the 1988 team’s ace reliever, but without him, they might never have won it all.

    We’ll get to just why in a bit. But first, a little background on Brian John Holton. Born on November 29, 1959 in McKeesport, Pennsylvania. the 6’2” right-hander was selected by the Dodgers in the first round of the 1978 draft. His path to the majors would be one of perseverance, grinding out year after year in AAA Albuquerque and even Tommy John surgery in 1983.

    It eventually paid off. After a few games with the Dodgers in 1985 and 1986, he saw a full season in 1987 and pitched solidly. 1988 was the culmination of his talents, with a 7-2 record and 1.70 ERA in the regular season.

    In the NLCS against the heavily favored Mets, Holton’s importance was magnified by closer Jay Howell’s suspension for pine tar use in game three. Holton twirled four innings across games four, five and six, allowing just one run. His best moment was a 1.2-inning save in game five, putting the team one win away from the pennant.

    In the World Series, Holton only saw action in game one. But that one appearance was all he needed to help the Dodgers claim a miraculous title. With Oakland leading 4-2, Holton came on to pitch in the top of the sixth, retiring Carney Lansford, Dave Henderson and Jose Canseco in order. After a leadoff walk to Dave Parker in the seventh, he rebounded by easily dispatching Mark McGwire, Terry Steinbach and Glenn Hubbard.

    The importance of these two innings can’t be overstated. They helped keep the game in reach, with Mike Scioscia’s RBI single in the bottom of the sixth trimming the lead to 4-3. It stayed that way until the bottom of the ninth, when a certain outfielder from Pontiac strode to the plate. Unfortunately, Holton wouldn’t be the pitcher of record, that honor going to Alejandro Pena.

    [​IMG]

    The Gibson home run and all that preceded it has been recounted time and again, seemingly no detail about it unspared. Yet the fact that Holton quelled Oakland’s dangerous bats enough to set it up remains unjustly overlooked. In those two innings, he managed retire both of the Bash Brothers, among other powerful hitters. Getting Canseco was especially crucial, given all of Oakland’s four runs came on his camera-denting grand slam in the second.

    POST 1988

    Sadly, Holton’s clutch 1988 heroics proved to be his last in Dodger Blue. In December of that year, he was traded to the Baltimore Orioles along with Ken Howell and Juan Bell to acquire Hall of Famer Eddie Murray. It was news he didn’t take well, slamming the phone and cursing. His hopes of receiving his World Series ring at a Dodger Stadium ceremony were supplanted by getting it in the mail, as if it were any mundane package.

    From thereon, it was downhill for Holton, professionally and personally. He managed a 7-10 record and 4.18 ERA in two seasons with the Orioles, and never saw the majors again. He came back to the Dodgers minor league system, but never got called up and instead retired at age 32.

    The World Series ring he earned so unceremoniously was pawned to stave off bankruptcy. Alcohol and painkiller addictions worsened things, eventually sending him to a substance abuse program. He and his wife divorced, and he wound up in a Wisconsin jail for a stint for not making child support payments. At another time, he lived in a homeless shelter. He worked odd jobs just to keep his uncertain life moving forward.

    When Bill Plaschke caught up with him for a moving profile in the L.A. Times last year, he was undergoing a second knee-replacement surgery. As of that article’s publication, he was living in a friend’s house in Milwaukee, with no job and only his life savings and player’s pension to keep him afloat. Despite his anger over being traded by them in 1988, he still retains his love for the Dodgers, wearing a souvenir cap every time he watches their games.

    With the Dodgers’ grueling championship drought now officially at 30 years and counting, it’s high time Brian Holton got his due. He played a huge part in bringing Los Angeles its most cherished baseball title, setting up the Gibson home run that made history. Yet he didn’t even properly receive his ring for it with the team, a ring he was forced to part with among many other hardships since his year in the sun.

    Next time the Dodgers make the postseason, once again chasing that elusive first trophy since ‘88, they would do right by having Holton throw out the ceremonial first pitch. It’s time to bring his name out of obscurity and to the forefront of our recollection of the improbable, impossible team that defined the franchise forever.
     
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  19. Fall Winslow

    Fall Winslow McRib

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    Marwin puts the ball in play more than Taylor does. If somebody out there wants Taylor in a trade package and the plan is to replace him with Marwin, I don't see anything wrong with that
     
  20. Fall Winslow

    Fall Winslow McRib

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    The report actually may fuel them to go above and beyond
     
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