Friday, July 30, 2010

Rosenthal Rumor: Lilly and Theriot?

Fox Sports' Ken Rosenthal tweeted this morning that the Dodgers are not only after Cubs pitcher Ted Lilly, but 2B/SS Ryan Theriot as well. I'm assuming this means we would give up Blake DeWitt (with which I'm fine) but I hope no one else.

Why we'd want Theriot, whose OPS+ has been under 100 all four years since his rookie year, is beyond me (and DeWitt's OPS+ this year is exactly 100). Bring on the parade of sub-par acquisitions, Ned!

41 comments:

Greg Zakwin said...

Why would you be fine with giving up DeWitt when we're replacing him with Theriot, who is truly awful?

DeWitt has upside at least, and if he were playing his more natural position of third, he'd be giving us elite defense there (which The Beard is not doing).

rbnlaw said...

Hmmm. The Former KempKershaw and I agree on this point. Curious.

Lilly? Yes. He eats innings; something Kuroda has had difficulty with lately.

Theriot? Hell-to-the-f'ing No!
1. It's our offense that needs fixing.
2. French last name. We got all those we need.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Hell no, fuck Theriot!
Hell no, fuck Theriot!

And congrats to Edwin Jackson, who gets another shot at a pennant race with the ChiSox.

Kyle Baker said...

I believe this is the point at which I engage the former KempKershaw in an argument over Beard's defense this year, and at which he presents obscure statistics he believes to be to the contrary, and we agree to continue permanent disagreement...

Paul said...

Never had had an issue with Blake's fielding it is his hitting that has sucked.

You can assume I am talking about either one of the Blakes or both!

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

I think Blake should be replaced next season. He's getting old and can't play every day anymore. Plus the 3B market after the 2011 season is pretty damn barren. He would make a good bench bat though. Lots of versatility, could play 3B, 1B, and LF.

Nostradamus said...

@Paul

Except that one will probably get better, and the other will probably get worse.

Paul said...

Can we trade this year's Kemp and Dewitt for last years Kemp?

Paul said...

I don't know Dewitt may have peaked his first year.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Rookies typically oversucceed their first year. Just look at the landscape. John Ely, Blake DeWitt, Jayson Heyward, Chris Coghlan, Kosuke Fukudome.

Once word gets out and teams start to pick up on their weaknesses is when you determine if they really are up to snuff.

Kyle Baker said...

I like DeWitt, and certainly wouldn't put him in a trade that wasn't worthwhile, but that aside: this was his year to break out, after having been given the 2B role, and he just hasn't responded. Can't keep waiting year after year. I know he's not at his natural position, but he's a grown-ass man and ought to have adapted at this point after playhing the position quite a bit in both AAA and the majors.

Alternately, we could look to put him back at natural 3B next season, and C. Blake spells him and PHs off the bench, then concentrate on 2B acquisition. Maybe DeWitt is concentrating too much on not fucking up on defense and it's throwing off his batting.

rbnlaw said...

Did you say fuck you domey?

I agreed with KK regarding Theriot. Blake's fielding has been serviceable this year. MLASF is correct about the position, looking down the road.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

I would like to see the Dodgers pursue Adrian Beltre. I know it won't happen, but I'd like to see it. If not, then move DeWitt back to third, and call up Ivan DeJesus and stick him at second. Nothing really in the 2B market that's special.

Steve Sax said...

I have wanted to like DeWitt, and I know he has had to change positions, but it's his lack of hitting that drives me nuts. I haven't seen what his upside from the plate might become, so I'm skeptical we'll get more.

Theriot is useless, maybe even more useless.

And hell yeah, I agree that we've gotta pursue Adrian Beltre at third next year. Period. I'm a big fan if the cupless wonder.

Nostradamus said...

I dunno, it doesn't seem to me like DeWitt is all that out-of-line with your league average for a 2B. 3B would be a different story. If we don't get something demonstrably better in return, I fail to see the point.

It's not like he's been not the only one hitting inconsistently since the break, so it seems kinda misdirected.

Yes, the airmail throw to first was pretty embarrassing.

Greg Zakwin said...

We don't even need Lilly, our pitching is more than fine.

Dusty- Blake had an excellent 2009, fielding included, but not so much this year. But again, agree to disagree is fine haha.

Mr.LA- Please tell me you don't think Jason Heyward belongs in that group? He's a phenomenal player having a superb year, and his numbers only started to slide when he was playing through a hand injury.

Nostradamus said...

@Sax

I dated a girl we used to call the same thing.

Lean times, those were.

Greg Zakwin said...

Mr.Customer- DeWitt at third at least gives us excellent defense from a premium defensive position, plus his patience at the plate.

Nostradamus said...

Might I point out that it has been our bullpen that has been perpetually awful?

The bats are ice cold, but they'll come back. The starting pitching seems to have found it's stride.

The bottom half of the 'pen is a sucking chest-wound of awful, even after we jettisoned the two worst offenders.

Nostradamus said...

@GZ

Agreed, but it's not a zero sum game. I don't see the next Ryne Sandberg walking through the door.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

I'm only saying that rookies typically fall into a slump. I don't doubt that Heyward will make a rebound, but for now he's nowhere close to what he did at the beginning of the season.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

I would still like someone for the fifth spot in the rotation, though it doesn't have to be anybody big. Just someone to eat innings.

Nostradamus said...

@MLASF

Kills two birds with one stone, as well, as it puts Monster back in the swingman role.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

@Mr C - Yeah, I'm getting a little uncomfortable with Monny in the rotation. I'd feel better if he was in the pen, even as the long man. Would be a much better option than McDonald.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

We still have an open spot on the 40-man, right? Or is it two because Trashner was DFA'd?

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

One last post:

RT @dylanohernandez: Source: Astros wanted Chad Billingsley in return for Roy Oswalt. Dodgers refused, offered four prospects.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Remember that time when I said that was my last post? I lied.

RT @dylanohernandez: Dodgers talking to Cubs about a multi-player deal that would include Lilly and a position player (probably not Theriot).

rbnlaw said...

Thankfully, the Theroit madness is ebbing.

Maybe they want Derek Lee? But why?

Fred's Brim said...

To me, this "picking the least ugly girl at the dance" shite is worse than rolling the dice with the chumps you already have.



FB, clown prince of the mixed metaphors

MR.F said...

Boo to Theriot.

Kyle Baker said...

Derek Lee has a no trade clause and he has already said he doesn't want to go anywhere else this season.

(Not saying I want him or we'd need him at all - just chiming in re the above comment on Lee)

Kyle Baker said...

@FB

I think picking the least ugly girl at the dance exactly descrobes Mr. C's so-called "lean times."

Fred's Brim said...

Boo to Terrio as well

Kyle Baker said...

HAH! re FB's last comment.

Fred's Brim said...

@DB Now I didn't know Neeebs' mom back then, but "lean" is not how I would describe her today. But the same could be said of me, I suppose

Kyle Baker said...

I'd love for someone to use the word "lean" to describe me these days, come to think of it.

Paul said...

I just lost a very insightful post. Damn blogger. Anyways trade market is light and the Dodgers still can't hit without Manny.

Oh and Sherrill is a selfish bastard if he rejected that minor league assignment.

Nostradamus said...

I'm sorry, but if Breezy doesn't want to go to ABQ, he can go to the curb at this point.

Kyle Baker said...

"RotoWorld reports that the Tigers and White Sox are discussing a Brad Hawpe deal with the Rockies...."

Hope that Dodger killer goes far away.

Neeebs (The Original) said...

3B is suppose to be a power position.

Exactly how many HRs does DeWitt have this year?

He's a utility guy, not an everyday player.

rbnlaw said...

Neeebs, FTW!
Good point on Joyce. Although, I'd like to see him get a shot at the corner and put some balls in the seats. . .between the foul poles. . .and not just at the Coliseum.