Welcome to the Blue, Erick Mejia!

I guess the Dodgers feel it's time to get a little deeper in the infield.  It has just been announced that they have traded starting pitcher Joe Wieland to Seattle for infielder Erick Mejia.  The recent additions to the starting pitching staff and with several top prospects knocking at the door, the opportunity for Weiland to play a role on the Dodgers was quickly floating away.  So, they send him northward in exchange for a kid who plays on the diamond - an area currently shallow in depth.  That's not to say that Mejia is any sort of answer.  From the looks of it, he doesn't appear to be a rising star.  But there might to be some promise.

Via Steve Adams at MLB Trade Rumors:

Mejia, 21, saw action at four levels last year in his age-20 season, batting a combined .282/.346/.339 with 20 stolen bases. He’s shown virtually no power to this point in his pro career, homering just once in 528 plate appearances, though he’s also displayed a solid knowledge of the strike zone, walking at a 10.8 percent clip against a strikeout rate of just 14.8 percent. Mejia didn’t rank among the Mariners’ top 30 prospects according to either MLB.com, but Baseball America did rank him 21st among Seattle farmhands last offseason. In that same offseason, Fangraphs mentioned Mejia as a “player of note” even though he didn’t rank among Seattle’s best prospects, with former FG scribe Kiley McDaniel writing that Mejia was an average runner with “enough glove to stick at short and enough bat that it matters.”

Per a March 2015 report at Prospect Insider.com:

Mejia is a slick fielder with good plate skills and promising gap power. He was a bit old for the rookie league last summer, but now has posted two strong years with the bat. Mejia is an above-average runner, but is not a burner and has yet to learn to steal bases — he managed 26 on 35 attempts combined the past two summers. Mejia has a shot to start the year in Class-A Clinton.

Via Rick Randall at Scout.com in August 2015:

While he has played mostly second base for the AquaSox and has made nine errors in 61 chances during his time at short at Tacoma, Clintonm Everett and the AZL, Mejia has the defensive chops to play shortstop at a high level as he matures. The bat he's shown this season and last -- both in his ability to make contact and in his ability to hit the ball hard -- say that there is a chance for him to make some noise in the system even if he's ultimately moved off of short, though. Keep an eye on him.

Per a Dodgers press release:

The Los Angeles Dodgers today acquired minor league infielder Erick Mejia from the Seattle Mariners in exchange for right-handed pitcher Joe Wieland.

Mejia, 21, has a .273 career batting average with 49 stolen bases, a home run and 42 RBI in 133 minor league games in the Mariners organization after being signed as an amateur free agent on June 30, 2012 out of the Dominican Republic. In 2015, the switch-hitter combined to hit .282 in 51 games with Triple-A Tacoma, Single-A Clinton, Single-A Everett and the Rookie-level AZL Mariners, while successfully stealing 20 bases in 21 attempts. During the course of his minor league career, Mejia has posted a .908 fielding percentage in 78 games (72 starts) at shortstop and a .989 mark in 48 games (44 starts) at second base.

Wieland, 25, spent the majority of the 2015 season with Triple-A Oklahoma City (10-5 4.59 ERA in 22 G, 21 GS), but also made two starts for the Dodgers, going 0-1 with an 8.31 ERA. He was originally acquired by Los Angeles from San Diego on Dec. 18, 2014 in a five-player deal and has a 1-5 record with a 5.85 ERA in 11 career big league games (nine starts) with the Padres (2012, ’14) and Dodgers (2015).

The Dodgers now have 39 players on their 40-man roster.

In celebration of Mejia's arrival to the Dodgers I made the above fantasy card for him.  I used a photograph grabbed from Scout.com and the 1968 Topps Baseball card design.

Below are his career stats, via Baseball-Reference:

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Blog Kiosk: 12/1/2015 - Dodger Links - Roberts, Greinke and Some Prospect Talk

Dave Roberts will make his first official appearance as the Dodgers manager later this morning as he'll be introduced during a press conference at 11:00 AM.  It'll be televised live on SportsNet LA, so those of you who have the channel can tune in.  Via Ken Gurnick at MLB.com, "Dodgers set to introduce new skipper Roberts."

"Don't mistake kindness for weakness," said Hoffman, who played with Roberts in San Diego, then watched from the front office as Roberts coached five years for the Padres.

"He's learned from a lot of people and I think he's ready for the opportunity. He's a great communicator and people gravitate to his energy. Being in the second biggest market will be a test, but nothing he hasn't seen. He won't be overmatched by anything."

Photo above via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2004.  Below are more links to check out:

• Ben Badler at Baseball America answered a bunch of questions about the Dodgers Top-10 Prospects, here. 

Frank (Chicago, IL): Willie Calhoun a top 30 prospect for you? Is his destination to be the keystone, or can he play elsewhere?
Ben Badler: Definitely a Top 30 guy. I’m a huge fan of Willie Calhoun’s bat. When you watch his swing—wow. His hitting mechanics are outstanding. Short, compact swing, excellent rhythm and balance, with the barrel staying on plane with the ball for a long time. The crazy power numbers he posted as an amateur are going to come back down to earth, but for his size, he does have surprising power and could be a 15-20 HR guy. The way he raked in his brief taste of pro ball after signing this year is no fluke. Now the downside—he’s short, stocky, doesn’t have much physical projection left and his defense is poor. It doesn’t seem like he’s ever prioritized defense, so the hope is that with more emphasis on his fielding and the benefit of pro instruction, he can become at least a playable defender there, and I think he can do that. I love that pick by the Dodgers for where they got him.

Curtis (Nevada): Do you see the Dodgers trading Urias for a SP this offseason?
Ben Badler: I would be surprised if they traded Urias for anybody. He’s one of the truly elite pitching prospects in baseball.

• I really hate rumors on the hot stove.  More often than not they are baseless, unsubstantiated and totally made up.  That said, I figured this was something worth passing along.  Via Jerry Crasnick on twitter, the Zack Greinke market is red hot:

Zack Greinke's market is quietly heating up, says a source. #Dodgers, #SFGiants both looking for some clarity.

— Jerry Crasnick (@jcrasnick) November 30, 2015

• Dodgers adding more depth in outfield.  Via John Manuel on twitter, they are expected to sign Donavan Tate.  Mike Petriello at Dodger Insider writes about him here.

OF Donavan Tate, No. 3 pick in 2009 #mlbdraft, is expected to sign as a minor league free agent with the #Dodgers https://t.co/2hxGrAlzDC

— John Manuel (@johnmanuelba) November 30, 2015

• Jim Johnson, who the Dodgers acquired via a trade with the Braves, has signed a new deal with the Braves, via DJ Short at Hardball Talk.  As you'll recall, Johnson was absolutely horrible when he came to the Dodgers.
• Giovanni Balistreri at When Topps Had (Base) Balls creates a fantastic fantasy rookie card featuring Ron Cey.  Check it out here.
• Via Dylan Hernandez on twitter, the Dodgers avoid arbitration with Joe Wieland by agreeing to terms:

Source: Joe Wieland re-signs with #Dodgers for $590k. Wieland was a non-tender candidate.

— Dylan Hernandez (@dylanohernandez) December 1, 2015

• On Wieland, via Jeff Todd at MLB Trade Rumors:

Though the soon-to-be 26-year-old is hardly an established major leaguer, the Dodgers obviously didn’t want to risk losing him with a non-tender. Wieland has worked almost exclusively as a starter over his career but could conceivably factor in the major league pen this year. Last season at Triple-A, he tossed 113 2/3 innings of 4.59 ERA ball with 7.3 K/9 against 2.0 BB/9.

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Blog Kiosk: 9/2/2015 - Dodger Links - Jansen, Pederson and a Dodger Class Act

I love this pic of five former Dodger players hanging out with the organization.  From L-R: Steve Yeager, Don Newcombe, Orel Hershiser, Ron Cey and Nomar Garciaparra.  Photo above via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2015.

Below are more links to check out:

• ICYMI, pitcher Joe Wieland has been recalled to the Dodgers.  Via a Dodger press release:

Wieland made one start for the Dodgers, taking the loss on May 6 at Milwaukee, and went 10-5 with a 4.59 ERA in 22 games (21 starts) with Triple-A Oklahoma City this year. The 25-year-old has appeared in 10 career big league games (eight starts) with the Dodgers and Padres (2012, 2014), going 1-5 with a 5.98 ERA. He was acquired by Los Angeles from San Diego in a five-player trade on Dec. 18, 2014, which also netted the Dodgers catcher Yasmani Grandal.

• This is a classy thing to do.  Via Jesse Rogers at ESPN, "Dodgers send rubber, dirt from mound to Jake Arrieta to honor no-hitter."

"Really nice gesture," Arrieta said of the Los Angeles Dodgers. "They sent a bucket of dirt from the mound, and they dug up the pitching rubber, which weighed 60 pounds. That's something I'll cherish as much or more than anything I've been given throughout the process."

• Via Mark Saxon at ESPN, "Dodgers bullpen is getting its act together fast."

"People just, I'm sorry, talk s--- about us," Jansen said. "They just don't understand this game sometimes. You can ask the hitters. They're going to go through bad streaks. You're going to go through bad streaks. Since the beginning, I told everybody that I like this bullpen. The guys that we have are pretty special."

• That Pederson home run off Bumgarner last night was like redemption.  Hopefully it's a big step in the right direction.  Via Steve Bourbon at MLB.com, "Pederson shakes off slump with big fly."

"I'm just trying to have some more rhythm and stay calm. Just nice and relaxed. See the ball and hit the ball. It sounds so simple but it's not," Pederson said. "The adjustment this offseason was to make the barrel more upright to be consistent. At the start of the year it was good. But you lose things, go down some wrong roads, struggle a bit and you adjust. Like I said, it's a learning process."

• Paul Lukas at UniWatch shares his most recent flea market find, and it's really strange... and awesome... but mostly strange.  Check it out here.

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Blog Kiosk: 5/7/2015 - Dodger Links - Pederson's Streak, Puig to Rehab and Ryu's Velocity is Down

Joe Wieland had a terrible start to his Dodger career.  He gave up five runs in the first inning, but quickly settled down at one point got nine batters out in a row.  Uncharacteristically, he only struck out two and walked four.  Via Ken Gurnick at MLB.com:

"I couldn't locate my fastball," said Wieland, who didn't use a changeup until the second inning, when he started to get quick outs.

As for the offense, Joc Pederson continues to mash the ball.  He blasted two solo home runs to continue a streak of seven consecutive hits for home runs.  BTW, Joc is the first Dodger to do this since Hee-Seop Choi in 2005.  Mattingly had this to say via another Gurnick story at MLB.com:

• "This is what we thought we'd get, but we didn't know the power would come this early," said Mattingly. "Joc's a baseball player. He plays hard."

Graphic above via @Dodgers on twitter.  Below are some links to check out:

• Yasiel Puig will begin his rehab today, via Klyle Glaser on twitter:

Yasiel Puig will begin his rehab stint with @RCQuakes tomorrow. Will DH in game against Visalia #Dodgers

— Kyle Glaser (@KyleAGlaser) May 6, 2015

• Via Eric Stephen at True Blue LA, "Hyun-jin Ryu has setback in rehab from shoulder injury."  His velocity is way down.
• ia Jon Weisman at Dodger Insider, "Dodger hitters dominating righties in 2015."

Overall, the Dodgers are torching right-handed pitchers to the tune of an .841 OPS, which is .001 behind the club-record .842 set in 1953. If it were to hold up, the 2015 team’s .495 slugging percentage against righties would break the team record by .018 and the Los Angeles record by .048.

• Via JP Hoornstra at Inland Valley Daily Bulletin, "Robot umpires now? Don Mattingly echoes call for change to replay system."

“I think we should take the human element out of it,” he said.

• Via Jonah Keri at Grantland, "Joc Rocks: In Praise of the Dodgers’ Phenomenal Rookie Center Fielder."
• The Dodgers have made another pick up for the minor league system. This time they signed PJ Walters.  He had been playing for the independent Atlantic League’s Lancaster Barnstormers, via Steve Adams at MLB Trade Rumors.
• BTW, Chris Heisey is back with the club.  Via a Dodger press release:

The Los Angeles Dodgers today recalled outfielder Chris Heisey from Triple-A Oklahoma City and optioned right-handed pitcher Joe Wieland to Triple-A.

Heisey, 30, is tied for fourth in the Triple-A Pacific Coast League with seven home runs and batted .246 (15-for-61) with a double, 13 RBI and 16 runs scored in 18 games for Oklahoma City prior to his second stint with the Dodgers. He previously appeared with the club on April 22, starting in center field against the Giants, going 0-for-2 with a walk and a strikeout. Heisey was acquired in an offseason trade with Cincinnati and posted a .247 batting average with 50 home runs and 147 RBI in 543 big league games in five seasons with the Reds.

• Via Ron Cervenka at Think Blue LA, "Kenley Jansen – ‘I’m ready to come back next week.’

“I feel great. I’m making pitches, I’m happy about the outing,” Jansen said. “The results [don’t reflect that] but I had a good outing. It’s just about me making pitches ”

• I'm glad to see Dee Gordon having some success, and wouldn't be surprised if his current performance is reflective of the new normal for him.  That's not to say that he'll hit over .400, but I do think he'll fulfill the promise we expected when he first came up to the  Dodgers.  Via Jeff Sullivan at FanGraphs, "Dee Gordon Has Been Going Full Ichiro."
• Panini America released a bunch of preview pics of their upcoming 2015 Prizm Baseball card set; including the Yasiel Puig and Joc Pderson cards below.  Go here to check them all out.  There are 150 different photos.  BTW, this set officially releases next week.

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Blog Kiosk: 5/6/2015 - Dodger Links - Wieland, Greinke and Glenn Burke

This young Dodger fan in Milwaukee loves Jimmy Rollins... Obviously.

The photo above via @Dodgers on twitter.  Below are some links to check out:

• With Joe Wieland slated to make his Dodger debut this evening, Carlos Frias will start on Thursday; via Andrew Wagner at ESPN.com.

"We feel like it can't hurt to be able to give [Frias] an extra day," Mattingly said. "I'm not really worried about his arm, I just want to give him an extra day."

• Joe Wieland made an interesting comment to Ken Gurnick at MLB.com regarding the recent flurry of activity between AAA and the Dodgers:

"Down there, we expect anything to happen because just about everything has happened," he said. "You're here one day, you're outrighted. We've also had three or four starters on hold and then nothing's happened. We see it and have come to expect it. It's not as big an issue as it was in the beginning."

• Zack Greinke showed off a stellar bat flip yesterday.  Via Chris Landers at Cut4, "Zack Greinke busts out the rarely seen pitcher bat flip ... on a double."  JP Hoornstra shared a quote from Greinke about it on twitter:

Q: Where did the bat flip come from? Zack Greinke: It's always there. I just haven't hit one hard like that in a while.

— J.P. Hoornstra (@jphoornstra) May 6, 2015

• Via Jon Weisman at Dodger Insider, "Glenn Burke elected to Baseball Reliquary’s Shrine of the Eternals."  BTW, former Topps executive Sy Berger, considered the father of the modern Baseball card, was also elected.
• Via Mike Spohr at BuzzFeed, "16 Questions With Baseball Legend Tommy Lasorda."  There are a couple of silly questions, so get ready to laugh a bit.
• Former Dodger hurler Chad Billingsley has returned to a MLB mound to pitch.  I'm glad to see him back out there.  He was always someone I rooted for.  Via a tweet from Phillies beat writer Meghan Montemurro of The News Journal:

Billingsley's 1st MLB start since 2013 is over after 5 innings. He allowed 6 runs (5 earned) on 8 hits w/1 BB & 2 Ks on 77 pitches #Phillies

— Meghan Montemurro (@M_Montemurro) May 6, 2015

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Prospect Joe Wieland To Start for Dodgers on Wednesday

One of the pieces received from the Padres in the Matt Kemp trade over the winter will make his first start for the Dodgers tomorrow.  Joe Wieland, a right-handed starter, is already in Milwaukee in preparation for his upcoming start.

I wrote this about Wieland back in December:

Known as a pitcher with fantastic control, he throws from a three quarters angle and an easily repeatable delivery.  Wieland has a two seam and four seam fastball, a curveball and a changeup. His heater is clocked in the low 90's. 

Weiland made his Major League debut in 2012 against the Dodgers on April 14th.  Unfortunately for him, he got hit hard.  Ironically, the man he was traded for, Matt Kemp, hit two home runs off him.  Andre Either hit one, as well.  Over five innings pitched he gave up six earned runs on six hits.

Then, after his fifth start that season he experienced arm problems that soon lead to Tommy John surgery, and it's been a hard road ever since.  After missing the entire 2013 season, Wieland had arthroscopic surgery on his pitching elbow in early 2014, and finally made a return to the mound in San Diego later that year. 

So far, Wieland has made four starts for Oklahoma City this season, and has done well.  He is 3-0 with a 3.60 ERA, 22 strike outs and only two walks in 20 innings pitched.  His pinpoint control has obviously not disappeared, and now he's striking out batters at a rate greater than at any other time in his career.  In his last start against Iowa City he gave up three runs over five innings, striking out five, walking none and yielded two triples.

In celebration of Wieland's arrival to the Dodgers I made the above fantasy card for him.  I used a photograph taken by Dodger photographer Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2015 and the 1968 Topps Baseball card design.

Below are his career stats, via Baseball-Reference:


UPDATE:  Per a Dodger press release (5/6/2015):

The Los Angeles Dodgers today recalled right-handed pitcher Joe Wieland from Triple-A Oklahoma City and optioned left-handed pitcher Daniel Coulombe to Triple-A.

Wieland, 25, will make his Dodger debut this evening, taking the hill tonight for a start against the Milwaukee Brewers. Wieland made four starts for Triple-A Oklahoma City this season, going 3-0 with a 3.60 ERA (8 ER/20.0 IP) and has struck out 22 batters with just two walks.

The Nevada native is 1-4 with a 5.31 ERA in nine Major League games (seven starts), all with the Padres in 2012 and 2014. Wieland was acquired from San Diego on Dec. 18, 2014, along with catcher Yasmani Grandal and right-handed pitcher Zach Eflin, in exchange for outfielder Matt Kemp and catcher Tim Federowicz.   

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Dodgers Notes from Spring Training: Spring Game 32 / Road Game 17

Throughout Spring Training the Dodgers PR department sends out helpful daily notes from Camelback Ranch, and I am happy to pass them along.  See what they've written below.

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Los Angeles Dodgers (16-9-6) vs. Kansas City Royals (18-10)
Wednesday, April 1, 2015 – 12:05 p.m. MT | Surprise Stadium

LHP Clayton Kershaw (3-0, 1.86) vs. RHP Yordano Ventura (1-0, 5.14)
TV: SNLA

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(Joe Wieland, pic via @Dodgers on twitter)

GETAWAY DAY: The Dodgers take on the Royals today in Surprise in their Arizona exhibition finale, with many of the regulars having already made their way back to Los Angeles ahead of tomorrow’s Freeway Series opener in Anaheim. Yesterday, the Dodgers wrapped up a 15-game slate at Camelback Ranch - Glendale, establishing records in both total attendance (147,066, besting previous high of 136,944 set in 2009) and average attendance (9,804, beating 2014 average of 9,534). In its seventh season playing at Camelback Ranch, the club posted four sellouts and eight of its 15 home games drew crowds of more than 10,000 fans.

• Los Angeles has the National League’s top winning percentage this spring at .640 (16-9-6) and has already established a record with six ties.
• This is not an April Fool’s Joke, Opening Day is just FIVE days away!

90 FEET AWAY: The Dodgers came up just short yesterday, leaving the tying and winning runs in scoring position in the ninth, and fell, 2-1, to the White Sox at Camelback Ranch. Chris Heisey’s fifth-inning home run provided the Dodgers’ lone run in support of starter Joe Wieland, who took the loss after allowing just two runs in 5.0 strong innings.

• Yimi Garcia struck out the side in the eighth inning and has allowed just one run, while striking out 12, in 9.1 innings this spring.

B.A.T.-TER UP: On Monday, the Baseball Assistance Team (B.A.T.) announced that more than 1,400 players, coaches and managers for all 30 MLB clubs collectively pledged a record donation of $2,643,195 to the organization, which is dedicated to confidentially assisting members of the baseball family who are in need with nowhere else to turn. Additionally, the Dodgers (NL) and Tigers (AL) were recognized as the recipients of the Bobby Murcer Award for their generosity and committing the most money to the charity. It’s the fourth time that the Dodgers have won the award (also: 2010, 2011, 2013).

(Metal Detectors at Dodger Stadium, pic via @Dodgers on twitter)

SAFETY FIRST: Dodger fans will experience new security procedures set forth by Major League Baseball beginning with the Freeway Series finale on Saturday, April 4 with the Angels and running through the 2015 MLB season. MLB will be implementing new mandatory security procedures through a metal detector-enhanced screening process. This procedure, which resulted from a recent study of best security practices and MLB’s continuing work with the Department of Homeland Security to elevate and standardize initiatives across the game, will be in addition to bag checks that have been uniform throughout MLB.  Fan screening may be conducted by means of hand-held metal detection or walk-through magnetometers. These procedures were utilized periodically at certain gates during the 2014 season and all 30 Major League Baseball teams will institute these procedures this year.

FOLLOW THE CACTUS LEADERS: The Dodgers have blasted a Major League-leading 46 home runs (three more than the Cubs’ 43) and have a .286 team batting average (3rd, NL) with a .487 slugging percentage (2nd, NL) this spring.

• Joc Pederson continues to rank among the NL leaders this spring in batting average (.368, 6th), slugging percentage (.754, 1st), hits (21, T-5th), runs (13, T-2nd), total bases (43, 2nd) and home runs (6, T-2nd).
• Justin Turner has hit safely in 15 of his last 16 games and is batting .477 with six doubles, three homers and eight RBI, while posting a .500 on-base percentage and a .818 slugging percentage in 18 Cactus League games. Turner’s 21 hits this spring tie for fifth-most in the NL.
• Yasiel Puig ranks among the NL’s best this spring in home runs (5, T-4th) and RBI (13, T-10th); Kiké Hernandez places among the league’s best in home runs (5, T-4th) and runs scored (12, T-6th).

HAPPY HAPPY!: The Dodgers would like to wish a very happy birthday to Chris Withrow, who turns 26 today! Withrow will start the season on the 60-day disabled list as he continues to rehab from Tommy John surgery and offseason back surgery.

ON THE MOUND: LHP Clayton Kershaw will make his final start of the spring today and is expected to throw about 45 pitches. The 27-year-old last pitched on Sunday against the White Sox, allowing just one run on four hits and striking out eight in 6.0 innings and will make his fourth consecutive Opening Day start on Monday against the Padres. Kershaw is the only pitcher from big league camp heading to Surprise today and will be followed to the mound by minor leaguers.

• Zack Greinke will make his final tuneup of the spring this morning in a minor league intrasquad game, expected to start at 10:00 a.m. on Field 1 at Camelback Ranch.

(McCarthy, Kershaw, Anderson & Greinke, pic via @Dodgers on twitter)

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Dodgers Notes from Spring Training: Spring Game 31 / Home Game 15

Throughout Spring Training the Dodgers PR department sends out helpful daily notes from Camelback Ranch, and I am happy to pass them along.  See what they've written below.

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Chicago White Sox (9-15-3) at Los Angeles Dodgers (16-8-6)
Tuesday, March 31, 2015 – 1:05 p.m. MT | Camelback Ranch

LHP Carlos Rodon (1-0, 3.65) vs. RHP Joe Wieland (0-0, 1.00)
TV: SNLA

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(Autograph seekers, pic via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2015)

THANK YOU, ARIZONA: The Dodgers finish their home portion of the spring schedule today, officially saying goodbye to their seventh season at Camelback Ranch. So far this spring, Los Angeles is 7-4-3 at home, and 140,925 fans have come through the gates this March. The Dodgers sold out their games on March 13, 14, 19 and 27 and want to thank baseball fans in Arizona and Dodger fans across the country. For the Camelback finale, the Dodgers, who have the National League’s best spring winning percentage at .667, will take on the Chicago White Sox for the fourth and final time this spring. Los Angeles has taken two of three from Chicago thus far, losing the Cactus League opener, 6-4, before coming back to win on March 5 and March 26. Just a friendly reminder, Opening Day at Dodger Stadium against the San Diego Padres is in just six days.

ANOTHER DAY, ANOTHER WIN: The Dodgers beat the Diamondbacks in Scottsdale yesterday, 4-2, behind a strong start from left-hander Brett Anderson. Anderson moved to 2-0 in the Cactus League, tossing 6.0 scoreless innings and giving up just four hits while striking out two. The native of Texas walked one and lowered his ERA to 2.13 this spring. As of now, Anderson is slated to start his first game during the regular season on April 10 in Arizona. At the plate, Adrian Gonzalez, Kiké Hernandez, Carl Crawford and A.J. Ellis produced run-scoring hits.

LET’S MAKE A DEAL: Today, the Dodgers acquired minor league utilityman Elliot Johnson from the Rangers in exchange for cash considerations. Johnson appeared in seven games for the Indians last season and spent most of the season at Triple-A Columbus, hitting .236 with five homers in 87 games. In addition, the club signed right-hander Freddy Garcia to a minor league deal. Garcia pitched last season in Taiwan.  

DONNIE DODGER BASEBALL: On this date in 2011, Don Mattingly recorded his first victory as a Dodger manager, a 2-1 victory over the Giants. That game was also the first-career Opening Day start for Clayton Kershaw, who is set to make his fifth consecutive Opening Day start on April 6 vs. San Diego. Mattingly has a career record of 354-293 and his .547 winning percentage ranks fifth in franchise history among managers with at least 250 games at the helm, trailing just Charlie Dressen (.642), Burt Shotton (.603), Leo Durocher (.567) and Walter Alston (.559).

FOLLOW THE CACTUS LEADERS: The Dodgers have blasted a Major League-leading 45 home runs (four more than the Cubs’ 41) and have a .288 team batting average (3rd, NL) with a .490 slugging percentage (2nd, NL) this spring.

• Joc Pederson continues to rank among the NL leaders this spring in batting average (.368, 7th), slugging percentage (.754, 3rd), hits (21, T-2nd), runs (13, T-2nd), total bases (43, 2nd) and home runs (6, T-2nd).
• Justin Turner has hit safely in 14 of his last 15 games and is batting .465 with six doubles, three homers and eight RBI, while posting a .489 on-base percentage and a .814 slugging percentage in 17 Cactus League games. Turner’s 20 hits this spring tie for fifth-most in the NL and his 35 total bases rank eighth.
• Yasiel Puig ranks among the NL’s best this spring in home runs (5, T-4th) and RBI (13, T-7th); Kiké Hernandez places among the league’s best in home runs (5, T-4th) and runs scored (12, T-5th).

ON THE MOUND: RHP Joe Wieland, sporting a 1.00 ERA (1 ER/9.0 IP) in four Cactus League games, will make his first start this spring today. Wieland was optioned to the minor leagues on March 16 and figures to start the season in Triple-A Oklahoma City. The Nevada native was acquired from the Padres in the Matt Kemp deal and is 35-22 with a 3.27 ERA in 95 games (87 starts) during seven minor league seasons with the Rangers and Padres’ organizations.

• RHP David Aardsma will see action for the ninth time this spring. The veteran reliever has held opposing hitters to a .143 batting average, while striking out nine through 8.0 innings of work.
• RHP Juan Nicasio is expected to make his eighth appearance, including one start, of the spring this afternoon. Nicasio, who was acquired from Colorado on Nov. 24, 2014, has 11 strikeouts and just two walks in 11.1 innings this spring and has a 2.18 career strikeout-to-walk ratio in four big league seasons (294 SO/135 BB).
• RHP Sergio Santos has tossed scoreless relief in five of eight appearances this spring, while striking out 10 in 7.2 innings. He last pitched in a big league game on Sunday against the Giants, allowing two runs in 0.2 innings of relief.
• RHP Yimi Garcia will make his ninth Cactus League appearance today. Garcia allowed his first run of the spring in his last start on Friday against the Giants.

(Joe Wieland, pic via @Dodgers on twitter)

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Dodgers Notes from Spring Training: Spring Game 8 / Home Game 4 - Kershaw Makes Second Starting Today

Throughout Spring Training the Dodgers PR department sends out helpful daily notes from Camelback Ranch, and I am happy to pass them along.  See what they've written below.

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 Los Angeles Dodgers (4-1-2) vs. Colorado Rockies (2-3-1)
Tuesday, March 10, 2015 – 1:05 p.m. MT | Camelback Ranch

LHP Clayton Kershaw (1-0) vs. RHP Eddie Butler (0-0)
TV: SNLA Radio: None

#DodgersST lineup today: Barney 2B Crawford LF Turner 1B Gonzalez DH Ethier RF Uribe 3B Ellis C Seager SS Hernandez CF Kershaw P
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) March 10, 2015

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(Dodger gear, pic via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2015)

HEATING UP: As the weather in Arizona heats up, the Dodgers find themselves unbeaten in their last six games, keeping the streak alive with a 5-5 tie against San Francisco yesterday in Scottsdale. Today is the first of two Cactus League games this spring against the National League West-rival Colorado Rockies. A split squad of Dodgers will travel to Talking Stick on Saturday, March 21 for the second leg of the series. Last year, Los Angeles went 13-6 facing the Rockies, their best against Colorado since going 14-4 in 2009. The clubs’ first meeting this season will be April 17-19 at Dodger Stadium. The Dodgers do not visit Denver until May 8.

• Opening Day is just 27 days away, as the Dodgers take on the Padres Monday, April 6.

BATTLING BACK: Facing a 5-2 deficit to the Giants in the seventh inning, the Dodgers came back to tie the contest at five apiece yesterday, earning their second tie of the spring season. Dodger starter Brett Anderson was terrific in his debut, retiring six of the seven hitters he faced and inducing five grounders to go along with a strikeout. Elsewhere on the mound, Erik Bedard fired 2.0 scoreless frames while Yimi Garcia and Chris Hatcher added a scoreless inning apiece. Neither has given up a run this spring. Offensively, Jimmy Rollins was 2-for-3 with a triple and a double and Yasiel Puig blasted his first homer of the spring, a two-run shot in the fourth inning. 

• Second baseman Howie Kendrick committed a throwing error in the fifth inning yesterday, snapping a string of 45 consecutive errorless innings. Los Angeles has committed just two errors through its first seven Cactus League contests.
• Los Angeles pitchers have combined to post a 3.57 ERA and limit opposing hitters to a .211 batting average this spring, striking out 53 and walking only 16 in 63.0 innings.
• The Dodgers are averaging nearly six runs per game, slugging .455 as a team and have posted a .275 batting average.

(Yasiel Puig, pic via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2015)

ON THE MOUND: Left-hander Clayton Kershaw will make his second start of the spring today after striking out three and not allowing a hit in two scoreless frames last Thursday. Kershaw is coming off a season in which he took home both the NL MVP and Cy Young awards. Since making his debut in 2008, Kershaw leads the Majors in ERA, winning percentage (.667), opponents’ average (.209) and WHIP (1.06).

• RHP Joe Wieland is expected to make his second appearance of the spring today after tossing two scoreless innings in last Thursday’s win over the White Sox. Wieland made his Major League debut at Dodger Stadium as a member of the Padres on April 14, 2012. He missed the second half of the 2012 season and all of the 2013 campaign due to Tommy John surgery.
• Veteran RHP Dustin McGowan will make his second appearance of the spring today after allowing two runs on two hits in an inning of relief on Friday against the Mariners. The former first-round draft pick has struck out nearly twice as many as he’s walked in his career, striking out 392 and walking only 199 in 482.1 innings.
• 23-year-old LHP Paco Rodriguez is also expected to see action today after tossing a scoreless frame on Friday against the Mariners. Rodriguez became the first member of the 2012 draft class to make his Major League debut, reaching the Majors after pitching in just 21 minor league games.
• Hard-throwing RHP Pedro Baez is expected to appear in today’s game, after pitching a scoreless inning of relief in his first action of the spring on Friday against the Mariners. Baez limited opposing hitters to a .188/.231/.306 slashline and posted a 0.88 WHIP in 24.0 innings with the Dodgers in 2014.
• RHP David Aardsma will make his second appearance of the spring today after tossing a scoreless frame on Friday against the Mariners. Aardsma has averaged nearly a strikeout per inning during the course of his career, with 305 strikeouts against only 169 walks in 306.1 innings.

30 IN 30: MLB Network’s 30 Clubs in 30 Days was on-site this morning for an inside look at Dodger camp. The hour-long special, complete with field reports, interviews with Dodger players and Don Mattingly and predictions, airs today at 4:00 p.m. PT.

(Warming Up, Pic via Los Dodgers on twitter)

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Dodgers Notes from Spring Training: Spring Game 2 / Away Game 1 - Kershaw on the Mound

Throughout Spring Training the Dodgers PR department sends out helpful daily notes from Camelback Ranch, and I am happy to pass them along.  See what they've written below.

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Los Angeles Dodgers (0-1)  vs. Chicago White Sox (1-0)

LHP Clayton Kershaw vs. LHP John Danks

Thursday, March 5, 2015 – 12:05 p.m. PT | Camelback Ranch – Glendale

 TV: SNLA/MLB Network Radio: AM 570 (Eng.), KTNQ 1020 AM (Span.)

(today's starting lineup, via Colleen Kane on twitter)

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(Clayton Kershaw, via @Dodgers on twitter)

JUST ONE GAME: The Dodgers dropped their Cactus League opener yesterday, in a 6-4 loss against the Chicago White Sox at Camelback Ranch – Glendale. The Dodgers are the designated road team in today’s game, a rematch against the White Sox, which is the Dodgers’ first of 19 road spring training games in Arizona. Starting pitcher, Erik Bedard took the loss in his Dodger debut yesterday, allowing one run on two hits in 2.0 innings. Designated hitter Joc Pederson went 2-for-2, with a double and a run and first baseman O’Koyea Dickson, who went 1-for-2 in the game, blasted a home run to left field in his first at-bat after entering the game in the 5th inning.

• The Dodgers are now 2-6 in their Cactus League openers since re-locating Spring Training to Camelback Ranch in 2009, including dropping both split-squad contests in 2011.

HILLTOPPERS: The Dodgers will send reigning NL Cy Young and MVP winner Clayton Kershaw to the mound today for his 2015 debut, coming off of a remarkable season, in which he topped the Majors with 21 wins (21-3) and a 1.77 ERA in 27 starts. He won his third-career Cy Young and became the 11th Dodger to win the NL MVP award, the first National League pitcher to be honored as MVP since the Cardinals’ Bob Gibson. He has led the Majors in ERA every season since 2011, becoming the first-ever pitcher to win four consecutive ERA titles. Since making his debut in 2008, Kershaw leads the Majors in ERA, winning percentage (.667), opponents’ average (.209) and WHIP (1.06).

• 25-year-old RHP Joe Wieland will make his Dodger debut today after being acquired by Los Angeles in a five-player trade with the Padres. Wieland made his Major League debut in 2012 for the Padres and was a September call-up again in 2014, posting a 1-4 record in nine big league games (seven starts). Wieland, who played in seven minor league seasons, threw a no-hitter for Double0A Frisco (Rangers) on July 29, 2011 in the Texas League.
• RHP Brandon League will make his first appearance of the spring today. In 2014, League did not allow a home run in 63.0 IP, the most homerless innings by any NL player. Since 2004, he ranks first among Major League relievers (min. 475.0 IP) with a 61.1 ground ball percentage.
• Hard-throwing RHP Chris Hatcher is expected to make his first appearance as a Dodger after being acquired in a seven-player trade with the Marlins on Dec. 10, 2014. Hatcher, who made his Major League debut in 2010 with Miami as a catcher was returned to the big leagues the following season as a pitcher in 2011. According to Elias Sports Bureau, he became the first player since Art Doll of the Boston Braves in 1935 to play his first Major League season as a catcher and return in a subsequent season as a pitcher.
• LHP Daniel Coulombe, who made his MLB debut with Los Angeles last year as a September call-up, will also make his first appearance of the spring today. Coulombe who appeared in five games for the Dodgers, posted a 4.15 ERA and recorded five strikeouts. In his three years in the minors, Coulombe has gone 7-3 with eight saves and posted a 3.43 ERA in 126 games.



(Dodger billboard, pic via Matthew Moreno on twitter)

• LHP Ryan Buchter will make his first appearance of the spring today. Buchter, one of the newest Dodgers, made his Major League debut with Atlanta last season, which was his only big league appearance. In nine minor league seasons he has posted a 32-18 record with a 3.44 ERA in 327 games (two starts) in the Nationals (2006-08), Cubs (2009-11) and Braves (2011-14) organizations.

COME ON UP: The Dodgers will have five minor leaguers joining the club today against the White Sox at Camelback Ranch: infielder Luis Mateo (No.86), outfielder Joey Curletta (No.96), outfielder Travis Witherspoon (No.85), LHP Jeremy Horst (No.97), RHP Jeremy Kehrt (No.87) and RHP Steve Smith (No.95)

A SAD FAREWELL: The Dodgers mourn the passing of long-time Dodger scout John Keenan, who died this morning. Keenan was a scout in the Kansas area and was involved in the signing of many former Dodgers, including infielder Bill Russell and outfielder Mitch Webster. His grandfather, Bert Wells, was also a well-known Dodger scout.

MARK YOUR CALENDER: The Dodgers and the Padres have agreed to move the start time for their March 12 Spring Training game to 6:15 p.m. at Peoria Sports Complex. This adjustment from the original 1:05 p.m. time slot is to accommodate a request by Major League Baseball, which is collaborating with HBO to film a special that day in Arizona.

(Mattingly & Rollins, pic via @Dodgers on twitter)

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Blog Kiosk: 2/2/2015 - Dodger Links - Rocky Bridges, Joe Wieland and Yasmani Grandal

To conclude the Dodgers Community Caravan last week the Dodgers visited City Hall on Friday and met with a group of combat-injured service members and the Wounded Warriors Project for lunch.  Photo above via Juan Ocampo/LA Dodgers 2015.  Go here to check out more photos from the event.

Below are some more links to check out:

• RIP, Rocky Bridges.  Mark Langill at Dodger Insider passes along the sad news that former Brooklyn Dodger Rocky Bridges has died.  Check out his story about him here.
• ICYMI: The two assailants who attacked Bryan Stow at Dodger Stadium in 2011 have just plead guilty to additional federal gun possession charges, via an AP report at ESPN.  They were already in state prison for attacking Stow and now face time in federal prison.  In other words, they are doing everything possible to make sure they never get released.
• Via Miles Wray at FanGraphs, "Which MLB Teams are Blazing New Trails in Scouting?"  As you would expect, the Dodgers are at the top of the list.
• Via Jon Weisman at Dodger Insider, "A healthy Joe Wieland is eager to move forward with the Dodgers."

“I’m gonna go into camp and just show ‘em what I have, and I’ll let them make the decision,” he said. “I’m 100 percent ready to go, and I’m gonna do all I can to make it a hard decision on them.”

• BTW, the Dodgers new marketing slogan for the 2015 season is "We Love LA."

“Since 1958, the fans of Southern California have had a love affair with the Dodgers, our broadcasters and Dodger Stadium, and the feeling has been mutual,” said Dodgers’ Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer Lon Rosen.  “What better way to express our admiration to our fans for their overwhelming support than with this year’s slogan, `We Love LA’” 

• Via Ken Gurnick at MLB.com, "Gabe Kapler's favorite player: A.J. Ellis."

"That's why he stands out to me. He does a great job providing a platform for his teammates to be heard and appreciated. A.J. checks all of those boxes, and that's why he's my favorite player."

• Via Mark Saxon at ESPNLosAngeles.com, "Yasmani Grandal ready to make his mark with Dodgers."

“No pressure at all,” Grandal said. “I want to keep doing the same thing I was doing in San Diego and try to help this team win. They say they needed a catcher. Hopefully, me and A.J. [Ellis] can take this team to a World Series. I think both teams got what they wanted.” 

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Welcome to the Blue, Joe Wieland!

Along with Yasmani Grandal (I'll have a fantasy card for him up soon) the Dodgers received starting pitching prospect Joe Wieland in the trade for Matt Kemp.  Per a Dodger Press Release:

Wieland, 24, has gone 35-22 with a 3.27 ERA in 95 games (86 starts) in seven minor league seasons in the Rangers and Padres organizations from 2008-14. As a minor leaguer, he posted a 5.16 strikeout-to-walk ratio and averaged nearly a strikeout per inning, with 444 Ks and only 86 walks in 476.2 innings. He made his Major League debut at Dodger Stadium as a member of the Padres on April 14, 2012 and has gone 1-4 with a 5.31 ERA in nine big league games (seven starts) in 2012 and 2014. He missed the second half of the 2012 season and all of the 2013 campaign due to Tommy John surgery.

Wieland, pronounced WEE-lend, was acquired by San Diego along with Robbie Erlin in exchange for Mike Adams at the trade deadline in 2011, his best professional season. He was selected as a Single-A Carolina League mid-season All-Star and a Double-A Texas League post-season All-Star that year after going a combined 13-4 with a 1.97 ERA in 26 games (25 starts) with Double-A Frisco, Double-A San Antonio and Single-A Myrtle Beach. The Reno, NV, native was originally selected by the Rangers in the fourth round of the 2008 First-Year Player Draft.

Known as a pitcher with fantastic control, he throws from a three quarters angle and an easily repeatable delivery.  Wieland has a two seam and four seam fastball, a curveball and a changeup. His heater is clocked in the low 90's. 

Weiland made his Major League debut in 2012 against the Dodgers on April 14th.  Unfortunately for him, he got hit hard.  Ironically, the man he was traded for, Matt Kemp, hit two home runs off him.  Andre Either hit one, as well.  Over five innings pitched he gave up six earned runs on six hits.

Then, after his fifth start that season he experienced arm problems that soon lead to Tommy John surgery, and it's been a hard road ever since.  After missing the entire 2013 season, Wieland had arthroscopic surgery on his pitching elbow in early 2014, and finally made a return to the mound in San Diego later that year. 

Like many of the pitchers the Dodgers have recently added to their roster, Joe Wieland is a risk, but based on recent reports, he might be a risk worth taking.  Via Eric Stephen at True Blue LA:

Three years ago, Wieland was rated the Padres' No. 7 prospect by Baseball America, who also said he had the best control of any pitcher in the system.

Wieland has walked a miniscule 4.4 percent of hitters in his minor league career, and in his brief time in the majors has walked 8.1 percent of hitters (7.0 percent without counting intentional walks), roughly matching the National League average of 7.8 percent from 2012-2014.

It is likely that he begins 2015 in AAA, and depending on how he performs starting out, will probably be the first call-up when a starter is needed.

In celebration of Wieland's arrival to the Dodgers I made the above fantasy card for him.  I used a photograph grabbed from a photo from Zimbio (Rich Pilling/Getty Images North America) and the 1959 Topps Baseball card design.

Below are the career stats for Joe Wieland, via Baseball-Reference:

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The Trade is Done - A Look at the Dodgers Bounty

After many days of grief then worry, the trade with the Padres is finally done.  And with that, the final pieces of an active and hopefully fruitful December have fallen into place.  Unless, of course, the Dodgers new brain trust decide to pull something off between now and the new year.

Per a Dodger press release from last night:

The Los Angeles Dodgers today announced the acquisitions of catcher Yasmani Grandal, right-handed pitcher Joe Wieland and right-handed pitcher Zach Eflin from San Diego in exchange for outfielder Matt Kemp, catcher Tim Federowicz and cash considerations.

This announcement was then followed with this Dodger press release this morning:

The Los Angeles Dodgers today announced the acquisition of shortstop Jimmy Rollins and cash considerations from Philadelphia in exchange for left-handed pitcher Tom Windle and right-handed pitcher Zach Eflin, who was acquired yesterday from San Diego.

Whew!  As you likely know, a little kink formed in the Padres trade that appeared to have the makings of a deal-killer.  It had been reported by Bob Nightengale of USA Today that arthritis was found in both hips of Matt Kemp.  Soon, rumors were bandied about and screams were heard from all corners.

Did the Padres leak private data illegally?  Are Dodger fans really so loyal to Kemp that they would want him back on the team should the trade fall through.  After all, he can't at all be happy with the Dodger brass.  Do the Padres have buyers remorse and are they looking for a way to scuttle it.  More realistically, is this just posturing on the part of the Padres.  Are they so crass as to be willing to embarrass their own new player (Kemp) in hopes of getting some more cash? 

Per ESPN LA:

The deal was completed despite some possible lingering ill will between the Dodgers' front office and Preller because of the belief that Kemp's physical results were leaked to help San Diego pry further concessions out of its NL West foes, sources told ESPN.com's Ramona Shelburne. The Padres did ask for additional compensation from the Dodgers after Kemp's physical, but Los Angeles refused.

Yup, it was all just a negotiating ploy, and the Padres were willing to use a player they had desperately wanted as a pinata.  Good job, guys!  I'm sure Kemp appreciates what you've done.

Anyway, now that the dust has settled I figured I'd provide a quick and easy rundown of the bounty the Dodgers received and exchanged.  Check out a listing below (along with links to 'Welcome' post I made, if available):

• Jimmy Rollins, SS (1yr remaining in contract) -- Welcome Blog Post on Rollins
• Howie Kendrick, 2B (1yr remaining in contract) -- Welcome Blog Post on Hendrick
• Yasmani Grandal, C (Arb Eligible: 2016, Free Agent: 2019) -- Welcome Blog Post on Grandal
• Chris Hatcher, RP (Arb Eligible: 2017, Free Agent: 2020) -- Welcome Blog Post on Hatcher
• Kike Hernandez, Infield Prospect-Utility Player (Arb Eligible: 2018, Free Agent: 2021) -- Welcome Blog Post on Hernandez
• Austin Barnes, Infield/Catching Prospect with no Major League time yet -- Welcome Blog Post on Barnes
• Joe Wieland, SP Prospect (Arb Eligible: 2016, Free Agent: 2019) -- Welcome Blog Post on Wieland
• UPDATE: Apparently, the Dodgers are receiving $1Mil from Phillies in Rollins trade, per Todd Zolecki on twitter

In exchange for (not including players acquired, but immediately used for a subsequent trade):

• Matt Kemp, OF (5yrs remaning in contract) - to Padres
• Dee Gordon, SS (Arb Eligible: 2015, Free Agent: 2019) - to Marlins
• Dan Haren, SP (1yr remaining in contract) - to Marlins
• Miguel Rojas, Utility Infielder (Arb Eligible: 2018, Free Agent: 2021) - to Marlins
• Tim Federowicz, C (Arb Eligible: 2017, Free Agent: 2020) - to Padres
• Tom Windle, SP Prospect with no Major League time yet - to Phillies
• +Cash of roughly $42Mil ($32Mil for the Kemp Contract and $10Mil for the Haren contract)

BTW, the players we received, but immediately shipped out were:

• Andrew Heaney, SP Prospect from Miami with no Major League Time and ranked the second best LHP prospect in all on Baseball - to Angels
• Zach Eflin, SP Prospect from San Diego with no Major League Time.  He was drafted 33rd overall in 2012 Draft - to Phillies

And we did make two free agent signings:

• Brandon McCarthy, SP at 4-yrs for $48Mil -- Welcome Blog Post on McCarthy
• Brett Anderson, SP at  1-yr for $10Mil + $4Mil in incentives -- Welcome Blog Post on Anderson

That's a lot of movement for the Dodgers.  Heck, it's the busiest December in years.  No doubt the new Dodger front office has put their stamp on the team, and for better or worse we've got something new and different to watch come Spring.

On a side note, hasn't the activity we've been seeing throughout the league been weird.  It's as if all of these genius GM's decided to treat their teams like Baseball cards - trading players willy-nilly like they're children enjoying recess.  Strange!

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I Woke up to a Nightmare - Kemp is Gone!

This morning I woke up and leaned over to grab the remote.  I turned on the television, which was already tuned to the MLB Network, and rested comfortably as I wondered if there was any more Dodgers news to hear.  Then, before I could stretch out my limbs a feeling of pain and loss ensued.  Suddenly, I didn't want to get out of bed.  The first words I heard out of that tv included the phrase, "Matt Kemp to the Padres," so my heart immediately sank.

Dammit!  These guys are a bunch of uncaring, unfeeling monsters! 

In a span of 24 hours the Dodgers went from being spectators to an hyperactive child.  It's like I was sitting comfortably on my couch enjoying a stout brew only to be interrupted by some unruly neighbors bent on upending my life.

At one point last night, I was happy with the Dodgers' activity during the Winter Meetings.  We had seemingly added Jimmy Rollins, Howie Kendrick and Chris Hatcher for Dee Gordon, Dan Haren, Miguel Rojas - with some prospects, here and there, to even things out.  Furthermore, confirmations were coming in from all corners claiming that the Dodgers had also signed free agent starter Brandon McCarthy.

So last night, as I was putting my head on my pillow, I was having the kind of feeling that conjures up dreams of endless beaches and puffy clouds.  Now, as I wipe the sleep from my eyes, I realize that that was all an illusion.  We are in a cold hard world, and we are just mere spectators to it all.

I get the reasons for the aforementioned deals.  I don't understand the most recent trade with the Padres.

As you all likely know by now, the Dodgers have made a huge trade with San Diego.  Exact details are not in yet, but it appears likely that Matt Kemp and Tim Federowicz will go south for Yasmani Grandal, starting pitcher Joe Wieland and pitching prospect Zach Eflin.  (There are rumblings that Eflin goes to the Phillies to complete the Rollins trade)

Crap!  I had a hard time writing that last paragraph. 

I really believe that the old Matt Kemp is back, and he'll make a glorious return.  So, I certainly feel he'll make us regret that we let him go.  Furthermore, I am not at all impressed with former steroid suspended catcher Yasmani Grandal, and do not believe he is an upgrade over AJ Ellis - offensively or defensively.  Maybe the pitchers we get end up doing well, but overall I gotta call this deal a big loser for the 'Boys in Blue.'

Oy Vie!  What's a fan to do?  

I think I need to turn off my twitter feed.  It's driving me crazy.  Can somebody give me a hug?

I'll have some more about the past day soon; including some fantasy card creations for the new Dodger players.

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