Dodgers Spring Training: Doc talks / Yamamoto final start / Hyeseong Kim / Alex Freeland

1 comment

1. I get the feeling the organization wants Freeland to win the job. But face it. Kim has outplayed him this spring at the plate and defensively. I still believe Freeland and rushing are overhyped. But those prospects really were a clown show defensively against the Giants. Several thoughts i have come to based on what I have seen so far this Spring: 1) Ward is a DH only. His fielding makes Teo look like a GGer; 2) Rushing should not be authorized to make any ABS challenges this season. I have seen him burn both of the team's allotted challenges in two games alone from behind the plate and in the batter's box, and they weren't even close. He has also been caught looking multiple times this spring like he is clueless of the major league strike zone. His reported "good eyes" need glasses. His poor bat again, had him hanging his head against the Giants. Not a good sign; 3) I'm a Sasaki fan, but if Stone and Ryan and even Wrobleski show they can be stretched out and are healthy and effective, then I would support Sasaki being sent down early to work on FB command and refinement of that slider/cutter pitch. I also have growing concerns if he is teachable. Unlike Ohtani and yamamoto, sasaki is not conventional as far as his career path and cultural norms (he basically forced his way out amid media criticism and having MLB teams provide strategies to improve his velo during his recruitment) and had been taken care of financially early in his career by that powerful Japanese PR company. You add success on the mound in Japan at such a young age and it may have shaped him as to not being very open to outside teachings. So, there is a little concern if he is sent down this season and how he would take it; and 4) i may be reaching my patience level with Snell. Yeah, I get the whole, "it only matters he is healthy by the playoffs" but paying nearly $30 million a year for 12 or fewer starts a season is unacceptable.