NEWS/RUMORS/AROUND MLB Thread (Oct 2016 - Feb 2017)

MLB NOW is a good show. I don't know why they put painfully unfunny comedians who know nothing about baseball on the panel. Unnecessary.

 

The Truth shall set ye free...

 

Could also look no further than this year's 21MM man..one look at LAD's current payroll and that lotto ticket absolutely sticks out.
They gave Crawford any and every chance to come around, all of 2015 and then some, until the day came when it was just time to cut ties.
So yeah, it's a marathon, one that could end the way Kemp's tenure ended, the way Crawford's ended, or the way Puig's nearly ended last August..either way it's pretty obvious that they're OK giving guys a shot at rebuilding value.
McCarthy's now a year removed from TJ, considering the timetable for full recovery, giving him a legitimate chance to come back is reasonable.
And of course Kazmir's shown the ability to bounce back multiple times in his career..if he bounces back this year and pitches like a playoff worthy starter, their chances of matching these 98-100 win projections may be pretty good.
So seeing if Kazmir can put together a more consistent campaign is also fairly reasonable, especially if he's going up against 4's and 5's more often.

 

The legend grows.


Dodgers Rumors: Chase Utley Asked To Be Intentionally Hit In Order To Deliver Message To Teammate
By Matthew Moreno -
02/15/2017


After trading for Chase Utley in August 2015, the Los Angeles Dodgers went on to re-sign him to a one-year deal that December. Utley had made a minimal impact on the field during the second half of the season, but Los Angeles valued his leadership and intangibles.

Although Utley was expected to fill a utility role off the bench, he wound up serving as the Dodgers’ everyday second baseman and primary leadoff hitter. The veteran fared well early, though eventually couldn’t withstand the rigors of playing on a daily basis.

The Dodgers nonetheless remained interested in re-signing Utley this offseason. Prior to his reported agreeing to a one-year contract, Clayton Kershaw and others were said to have lobbied the front office in support of Utley’s potential return.

No longer the same caliber of player he was for the Philadelphia Phillies earlier this decade, Utley nonetheless is praised for his preparation, focus and relentless style of play.

According to MLB insider Peter Gammons, that entailed asking an opponent to intentionally hit him so that Utley could deliver a message to his teammate:

Coaches tell the story of a game in which the Dodgers had a big lead in the top of the eighth inning when one younger, enthusiastic teammate stole second base, which ticked off the opposition. When Utley got to the plate in the ninth, he told the opposing catcher to have the pitcher drill him. Then his teammate would understand there are consequences for showing up the opposition.

In reviewing Dodgers games from last season with the details mentioned above, there weren’t many results. Even when a stolen base occurred, there was not an instance where Utley was subsequently plunked. He otherwise was hit by a pitch 11 times, which was most on the team.

Of course, a near-hit by pitch last season against the New York Mets is what may resonate with many. Noah Syndergaard buzzed the back of Utley’s jersey with a 99 mph fastball and was ejected. Utley, didn’t show any emotion or reaction, and later hit a solo home run and grand slam to lead the Dodgers to a blowout victory at Citi Field.

The 38-year-old reportedly accepted less money to re-sign with the Dodgers, which Kenley Jansen and Sergio Romo are also said to have done this winter.

 

'Tis the stuff of legends...
Could be a movie script. Too bad Costner got fat...nice story line here. Last time I saw him though, he was more like Tommy typecast.

 

A rather specific set of circumstances involved with that story; but I can't find a game since Utley arrived where the Dodgers had a big lead in the 8th (or 7th), and a player on our team attempted a stolen base. Closest thing was Turner stealing 2B in the 6th inning of a 7-0 game vs Colorado (second to last home game last year).