Six 100-game winners in 134 years of Dodgers baseball. Two in 59 years in Los Angeles. A hundred wins in 2017? Pfft!
Dodgers fans are asking if the current bunch is the best in L.A. history. Or the best in franchise history. They're asking about Yasiel Puig's ceiling and about trade rumors. And forget Billy Beane; they're talking about making a deal with the devil. I endeavor to respond, in Dodgers Emailbag # 14. Here goes:
We know there's still more room for growth but... could Puig become one of the best players of his generation?
— Dodger Fan Weekly (@DodgerFanWeekly) July 15, 2017
Answer: That is a great question. Puig doesn't have to hit like he did as a rookie in 2013 (.319/.391/.534 with 19 home runs) to be a valuable player. A more reasonable goal is his 162-game average, of .282/.356/.471, with 23 home runs and 73 RBIs. While we may not see that batting average or on base percentage in the near term, the slugging percentage is just about right. He's at .469 now, and on pace for 31 homers and 82 RBIs, hitting primarily in the eighth spot.
As for his defense, no; there is no room for growth. We are seeing the best right field play, not just in this generation, but in several. Puig's critics will continue to trot out the silly "he missed the cutoff man" line from time to time, but those people have no idea what they're talking about.
It is a physical impossibility to play better right field defense than Yasiel Puig.
Most people consider Roberto Clemente's defense to be the standard, and I do too. But if I saw Clemente play at Dodger Stadium I do not remember it. What I have are hazy memories of the All-Star Game, the World Series and the occasional Game of the Week, with Curt Gowdy and Tony Kubek. Few under the age of 60 and outside the state of Pennsylvania can recall much more.
This will upset some people, and especially those who put little stock in fielding percentage and errors, but Yasiel wins on both scores. Puig is fielding at a .985 clip, with 14 errors in 4 1/2 seasons. The great Clemente fielded .973 during his 18-year career and committed a rather stunning 140 errors. I imagine that a fair share of those miscues -- including seven seasons with 10 or more -- were on throws well past the cutoff man.
Does this make Puig a better right fielder than Clemente? Not necessarily, but it's worth pondering as we watch the current player ply his wares at Chavez Ravine. I, for one, am grateful for the opportunity.
As for the mental side of the game, well, we've heard nothing to suggest a recurrence of the attitude issues of the past, and that has to be a good thing. No doubt skipper Dave Roberts, and his coaching staff, have played a role on that one.
@Howard_Cole does the high price for pitching scare you? How much for a quality lefty reliever?
— Tim Knoch⚾️ (@Octim1) July 15, 2017
Answer: No, because it's an absolute must-do. And because a left-handed late-innings man should not cost as much as a closer. And because the Nationals just set the market to some degree with a trade with Oakland. And because the Dodgers have the chips to deal, without it feeling like a punch to the organizational gut. The two favorites should be San Diego's Brad Hand and Justin Wilson, of Detroit. More about that here.
Who do the Dodgers give up for Gray and Doolittle? You know it's coming...
— BryanHolliday (@bryanjholliday) July 15, 2017
Answer: Well, Doolittle is off the market (see above) and because he's a huge injury risk, I'm glad he is. But for the sake of argument-- and because Los Angeles and Oakland do business together -- let's say Yadier Alvarez, Willie Calhoun and Trevor Oaks for Gray. Which is a haul.
Of course, a similar group of players would get you in a conversation for Wilson and J.D. Martinez, or Pittsburgh's Tony Watson and Andrew McCutchen. Felipe Rivero > Watson, so make it a blockbuster by including Mitchell White or Josh Sborz. Which is easy for me to say.
Andrew Friedman and company have held onto their tippy-top prospects to date, which is all we have to go by, so I believe it's safe to go back in the water, with Alex Verdugo and Walker Buehler staying put.
Do you want Britton? Is he the final piece to a ring?
— Jim Furlong (@EWOKinLA) July 15, 2017
Answer: The follow-up question is this: Is Orioles' closer Zach Britton healthy? He threw a perfect setup inning in his first game back from a forearm strain (which cost him two months on the disabled list) on the fifth of July, then allowed two runs on three hits two days later -- his worst outing since September 20, 2015 -- followed by two scoreless frames over the weekend. We can probably chalk the one blip up to rust, but Britton's medicals would need to be scrutinized. The follow-up to that is the cost in personnel, which may be prohibitive.
If L.A. can have Wilson or Hand in hand for less than what Baltimore will require for Britton, I'm fine with one of the former two. On the other hand, Britton and Kenley covering the final six to nine outs of a World Series clincher is something to dream about.
When Gonzalez comes back Bellinger goes to the OF which gives them a good rotation why would Dodgers not trade Verdugo for the arm they need
— Chuck Johnson (@ChuckJohnson56) July 15, 2017
Answer: Because Gonzalez, if he returns at all, is in the twilight of his career, and Verdugo is a 21-year-old top prospect, playing in a minor league system that is short on outfielders.
One of the blogs about MLB trade rumors mentioned using Austin Barnes as bait to get a big player on a trade. Think there's any possibility?
— Dodgers in 17 (@rxlarryd) July 15, 2017
Answer: Well, most of what you read this time of year is utter crap, and this sounds like fodder for bedpans at the Citadel. The club is rightfully high on Barnes for a host of reasons, and Yasmani Grandal is a free agent following the 2018 season. So, no.
Question: Via text -- yes, you may text your questions, if you have my number -- Brett Warburton asks if the 2017 Dodgers are "the best team in our lifetime?"
Answer: We're getting to the point where a nine-game winning streak is just ho-hum. All the Dodgers do is sweep opponents like they're flicking away gnats. Weak gnats. And yes, pun intended. "The best team in baseball" doesn't suffice, hence the question from Mr. Warburton.
The 111-51 pace is almost beyond comprehension, but that's where we stand this morning, which would beat the best-in-L.A.-history 1974 102-60 mark by nine games. Which is completely beyond comprehension.
That team, led by MVP Steve Garvey, Cy Young Mike Marshall, Jimmy Wynn, Andy Messersmith, Don Sutton and Bill Buckner, did not win the World Series. This team pretty much has to, to be considered the best L.A. team ever, independent of record.
It's clear now that the Dodgers will not be challenged in the National League West. Dave Roberts will provide rest for those who need it and playing time to keep everyone else fresh. The front office will continue to shuffle guys in and out of the starting rotation, and perhaps even limit the workload of Clayton Kershaw. A little. The record will even out. A little, say, to 105-57, which I can't even believe I just typed. They'll make a couple of key trades.
The best Dodgers team in our lifetime? The winningest team in franchise history was the 1953 Brooklyn Dodgers, who finished 105-49, which is .682 baseball. The 2017 Los Angeles Dodgers are 64-29, which is .688 ball. Talk to me in October, when we'll find out if this is the best in team history. Ever.
Did Doc make a pact with Satan this year, or ...? https://t.co/9ZOwav1u0Q
— Amanda Smith (@AmandaRTubbs) July 16, 2017
Answer: Since I haven't seen Ray Walston around the ballpark lately, no.
And remember, glove conquers all.
