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Top 5 Moves of the New Front Office
Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
The Dodgers have overcome a lot of hardship this season to remain in first place throughout the entire year. The Dodgers have had a slew of injuries, poor performances and horrid offensive slumps. Despite all of this the club has been in first place for all but one day in 2015. Right now the Dodgers have a three game lead over the Giants in the National League west, and a 45-35 record. I have been highly critical of the new front office this season, but I have to admit overall they’ve done a good job in keeping the club afloat. So with that in mind, I am going to give them some praise and countdown the top five acquisitions of the new brain trust this year. These are the moves that have kept the Dodgers in first place. What are the top moves you think that have been responsible for keeping the Dodgers in first place?
Next: Lefty Liberatore
Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
The Dodgers traded flame thrower Jose Dominguez (Along with minor league pitcher Greg Harris) for left handed reliever Adam Liberatore (and Joel Peralta). The 28-year old Bellflower native had no MLB experience when the Dodgers acquired him last offseason. Thus far he’s been very solid as a late inning middle relief option out of the Dodger bullpen.
Liberatore has posted a 2.74 ERA/2.30 FIP in 23 innings pitched. In 31 relief appearances, Liberatore has allowed just seven earned runs and 15 hits. That’s given him a 5.9 hits per nine rate. Not only is he not allowing base runners, but his strikeouts to walk ratios have been solid. He’s whiffed 26 and walked just 7 batters all season long. He’s posted a 10.2 whiff per nine rate, and allowed just one home run. He’s been very impressive in his short time with the club. He was good in the minors as well, posting a 2.69 ERA and an 8.8 strikeout per nine rate. He has been a very solid pick-up for the relief corp.
Next: Banana Boy
Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports
4. Enrique Hernandez (Kike) (Banana Boy)
Kike is another low cost solid acquisition by the front office. The Dodgers acquired the super utility player from the Miami Marlins in the Dee Gordon trade. Thus far he has exceeded expectations. He’s slashed .269/.310/.484 (25 for 93) with three home runs and nine runs batted in while playing in 37 games off the bench. He’s posted a 118 OPS+ in 100n plate appearances. He can play all over the diamond, seeing time at LF, CF, RF, SS, 2B, with league average defense. He’s also provided a unique spark off the bench for the club. His enthusiasm gives the Dodgers energy in the dugout and the clubhouse. Just recently he went 3 for 3 with a single, double and triple in the Dodger’s 4-3 win over Arizona on Wednesday evening. Now if we can just do something about this whole rally banana thing.
Next: Another Lefty
Jim Cowsert-USA TODAY Sports
I admit that when the Dodgers first signed left handed starting pitcher Brett Anderson to a one-year ten million dollar contract, I was skeptical. The 27-year old Midland Texas native has been very solid for the Dodgers. He’s provided stability in the rotation that has been thinned by injuries. Anderson is 5-4 with a 3.00 ERA in 16 starts. He’s thrown 96 frames, while 69 and issuing only 24 walks. He posts some of the highest ground ball rates in the National League and seems to be getting stronger as the season goes on. After getting off to a slow start (5.49 ERA in April), he’s been excellent ever since. In May he posted a 2.27 ERA, and in June he put up a 2.67 ERA. Recently he had a ten strikeout performance and on Wednesday gave another solid performance against the Dbacks to lead the Dodgers to a series victory.
Next: This is Howie we do it!
Rick Scuteri-USA TODAY Sports
This may have been the best move the Dodgers made all winter. The Dodgers flipped prospect Andrew Heaney to the Angels for second baseman Howie Kendrick. The right handed hitting keystone contact hitter was a player the Dodgers have long coveted. Kendrick played his entire career with the Angels and was always a solid all-around player. He seems to have really come into his own with a switch to the National League. So far Kendrick is slashing .298/.350/.428 (87 for 292) with 7 home runs and a 116 OPS+ in 317 plate appearances. He’s driven in 36 runs, and played in 75 games for the Boys in Blue. He’s flourished since being moved into the number two spot in the lineup. Batting second he’s posted a .542 (13 for 24) with an OPS of over 1.000.
Next: The Grandal Man Can
Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Perhaps the best move the brain trust has made was the one move that everyone thought would be the worst. The Dodgers traded Matt Kemp (along with Tim Federowicz) to the Padres for Grandal and two pitchers. The Grandal Man has been a revelation for the Dodgers in 2015. The switch-hitting backstop has taken over as the everyday catcher and it has been a blessing. Not only is he a great hitter, but also a solid catcher.
Grandal has slashed .269/.380/.497 (52 for 193) with 12 home runs in 229 plate appearances. He has an .877 OPS, and has been durable enough to play in 61 games. He’s also rates as one of the top pitch framers in all of MLB. It’s a joy to finally see the Dodgers getting production and value from the catcher position. (no offense to A.J. Ellis, we still love him)
On the flip side, I’ll be writing a post about the Dodger’s top 5 worst moves of the offseason. That’s where I get to talk a little smack about what hasn’t gone right for the brain trust. Stay tuned for that one!