Dodger Blue

Last week, Ned Colletti signed Brian Giles to a Minor League contract. At 39, Giles seeks an opportunity to show what he can do after having an off-year with knee surgery. The Dodgers need more outfield depth than in the recent past.
After Manny Ramirez's offensive decline last year, people realized he was aging. Though Joe Torre blames the 50-game suspension for Ramirez's decline, Ramirez should have improved as the season went on, but the opposite was true. I think being hit on the wrist in the middle of July affected his swing, although the Dodgers deny this. Anyway, Ramirez's offensive performance disappointed most Dodgers fans and made it more difficult for the Dodgers to win their division than it should have been.
Immediately after the season ended, Ramirez reportedly told some teammates that he should be a designated hitter in the American League. His legs were exhausted. The guaranteed $20 million salary proved too much for Ramirez to walk away from. However, Torre has said that he must rest him more days this season.
I can see by July that unless Ramirez turns into the hitter similar to what he was in 2008 when he joined the Dodgers, that he will become a pinch-hitter. Although he doesn't have to hit over .350 to keep his everyday starting outfield job, he needs to hit more than he did in 2009 after his suspension. Everyone knows that the Dodgers didn't obtain Ramirez for his defensive abilities. They wanted a player who could hit for a high batting average and had some power. When Ramirez's offensive production tailed off, he became a defensive liability in left field.
Everyone understands that the Dodgers have a weaker starting rotation than they did in 2009. With a weaker rotation, the Dodgers must have good defense to prevent runs. I think we will see Ramirez being replaced more for defensive purposes than we have in the past.
The Dodgers lost a possible leadoff hitter when they traded Juan Pierre. Although Rafael Furcal will lead off most of the time, the Dodgers need to have a reserve leadoff hitter for when Furcal needs to rest or if he gets injured. If Giles doesn't make the team, the most logical choice for a leadoff hitter for the Dodgers is Russell Martin. Although Martin is coming off of a poor offensive year, his on-base percentage was still decent. I don't want to waste Matt Kemp's power in the leadoff position. Casey Blake is too slow to be a leadoff hitter.
Putting a catcher in the leadoff position would tax his stamina. To me, Martin's offensive problems are caused by playing so many games. He gets tired, but he won't admit it.
Without any doubt, the Dodgers have a shortage of depth in players who can lead off. In the National League, teams who don't have a good leadoff hitter usually don't go to the playoffs. Giles always has had an excellent on-base percentage. Over his 14-year career, Giles has had a .400 on-base percentage, and this is outstanding. Though he hasn't stolen bases during his career, he has been a smart runner. I know he had knee surgery last season, but if the knee has healed properly, he should be a decent runner.
In the recent past, the Dodgers have carried only four outfielders because they wanted to carry more pitchers. To me, it was a risky decision. Over the years, many outfielders have collided and injured themselves seriously. I know the Dodgers thought they had players like Blake who can play in the outfield in an emergency until the team could promote a Minor League outfielder. I hope the Dodgers will carry five outfielders, especially with Ramirez's questionable legs. I know this will diminish the number of pitchers that they can carry, and with their weakened starting rotation, the Dodgers will need more relievers than usual because their starters probably won't go as long in games as the Dodgers need. However, having an extra outfielder could make a big difference.
The acquisition of Reed Johnson will help the Dodgers. Although he isn't the caliber of Pierre, he can play three outfield positions. He is a decent hitter. I think Dodgers fans will see much of Johnson over the 2010 season.
With the growing concern about Ramirez holding up for the entire season, the Dodgers must have two reserve outfielders. I know that Colletti has signed many players to Minor League contracts to develop greater competition during Spring Training and create more depth. Most of these names can be ignored by the common Dodgers fan.
Obtaining Giles could be a huge boost for the Dodgers. None of the people who follow the Dodgers seriously are comfortable with either Jason Repko or Xavier Paul as reserve outfielders. If Giles is healthy, he can provide the Dodgers with an experienced reserve outfielder and leadoff hitter.

a short post

This post is in reference to Tampa Taxi Shots. The writer is complaining how the city police are ruining the city. Why because they are giving out tickets for running traffic lights. Damn don't run the lights. I mentioned this when I commented on his post. My co-author, got T-boned on Hillsboro because someone ran a light. The shit head had no insurance. As United Cab does nothing for us when a thing like this happens shit out of luck. Too bad the guy wasn't stopped before he hit Tom, oh but I forgot too many cops making this a police state. Or that is what the guy who writes Tampa Taxi Shots said. One out of thirty-one men in Florida are in jail. Not sure about that figure. But I wonder how many derserve to be there. I know of one that was there and yes he deserved to be there.