watched the dodgers tonight

[Topcat]

Man does that franchise seem to be able to churn out some young players! Some will be very good, some will be serviceable, some will just be moinor depth. The point is you look in the Reds minors and it becomes so glaringly obvious at how abused that system has been :( . Please Wayne give me hope :bang:

[dabvu2498]

They have had some very good drafts. Their AAA team is well stocked, if I remember correctly. Highlighted by Chad Billingsly, RHP from Defiance, Ohio.

[edabbs44]

It also shows that they have been active in the international market...Aybar and Guzman to name 2.

[captainmorgan07]

they have a very good international flavor on there team some they have drafted as in navarro the catcher baez from the devil rays furcal from teh braves

[westofyou]

Who was the last great Dodger position player out of that system?

Aside from Pedro who was the last great pitcher?

[Tornon]

Mike Piazza? Eric Karros?

[westofyou]

Mike Piazza? Eric Karros?
Piazza.. yes, forgot about him. Karros, pedestrian. Konerko, doesn't count they dealt him too soon to reap anything.

[Doc. Scott]

Here's where Princeton and M2 show up to mock Terry Reynolds. Since Reynolds has left, though, the Dodger farm system has returned to being one of the five best.

[LincolnparkRed]

But Piazza was picked more as a favor that Larussa was doing for Mike, not because they knew he had any real talent.

[Heath]

Not bad for a team that went 70-92 last year.

I think Olmedo Saenz is a potential star - Just IMO.

[OnBaseMachine]

Not bad for a team that went 70-92 last year.

I think Olmedo Saenz is a potential star - Just IMO.

I'm not sure if you were joking or not, but Saenz is 35 years old. :)

[dabvu2498]

http://www.hardballtimes.com/main/article/ten-things-about-los-angeles-baseball

The Dodgers are the best offensive team in the National League.

The Dodgers are averaging 5.5 runs a game, more than any other team in their league, even though they play in one of the least favorable offensive ballparks around. In fact, if you adjust their output for their ballpark and league (pity the poor NL teams with no DH), they may well be the best batting team in the major leagues.

In April, they were average at the plate, scoring 122 runs. But they have sizzled in May, scoring 166 in 27 games, a pace of 6.1 runs per game through May 30. Over the last thirty days...

Nomar Garciaparra is batting .387/.444/.604 with 28 RBIs.
Jeff Kent is batting .316/.421/.582 with five home runs.
Rafael Furcal has a .370 On Base Percentage and Kenny Lofton has a .372 OBP. Jose Cruz's OBP has been .403.
Just for kicks, Ramon Martinez is batting .480/.567/.680 in 25 at bats. His lifetime line is .271/.322/.385.
And then there are the youngsters...


The Dodgers' kids have been awesome.

Continuing with the stats from the last thirty days, recognize these names?

23-year-old rookie catcher Russ Martin has batted .279/.375/.426.
24-year-old Andre Ethier, a rookie obtained from Oakland in the Milton Bradley trade is batting .302/.375/.492.
23-year-old rookie Willie Aybar is batting .340/.466/.511.
21 year-old-rookie Matt Kemp was just called up and has batted .429/.444/.429 in his first seven at bats. All singles. Wimp.
Jon Weisman wrote a nice overview of what the kids have meant to the Dodgers for Sports Illustrated. Before the season even began, Baseball America ranked the Dodger minor league prospects the best in baseball. I don't think anyone thought they would contribute so much so soon, but injuries have once again decimated the Dodgers. The difference between this year and last has been the kids; the Dodgers are this year's 2005 Braves.

[Heath]

I'm not sure if you were joking or not, but Saenz is 35 years old. :)

Actually, I didn't finish my thought - he could have had a very Vinny Castilla-like late 30's renissance - Star should have been "star".

Very productive when in the lineup.

Oh, well - heading on vacation anyway - maybe I need the week to re-charge.

[Hap]

They have had some very good drafts. Their AAA team is well stocked, if I remember correctly. Highlighted by Chad Billingsly, RHP from Defiance, Ohio.

I posted a thread back in 2003 begging Jim Bowden to draft him. I had just gotten home from watching him pitch a two-hit complete game 1-0 shutout in a district final(IIRC, but maybe a semi-final) game against Celina. I was sitting directly behind the plate, and near some scouts with radar guns. His breaking ball was topping 90 MPH. Once he found his command, the other team had absolutely zero chance.