Wednesday Rockpile: Jason Marquis, Scott Podsednik, and the Dodgers entertain the thought of Trevor Hoffman

by Russ Oates on Jan 7, 2009 9:06 AM MST in Rockpile

Jack Etkin chimed in with two blog entries last night. The first entry offers several scouts' views on Jason Marquis.

The second one is about Scott Podsednik's status with the Rockies, or, really, non-status. What once seemed like a sure thing after Willy Taveras was non-tendered, signing Podsednik hasn't happened. Dan O'Dowd is quoted as saying this in the entry:

"I can't say that he is [coming back] at this time. I haven't had a lot of positive feedback from (agent) Kenny Felder on Scott. So I don't know really where that one is at this point in time."

Eh. Not much of a loss if he goes elsewhere.

The Dodgers have recently joined the Milwaukee Brewers in the pursuit of Trevor Hoffman.

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A 41 year old

Trevor Hoffman instead of Saito and Beimel? I will take that…

How would you rank the NL West bullpens if this move occurs? It seems like the Dodgers are taking a giant leap backwards from elite bullpen to very middle of the road..

by Muzia on Jan 7, 2009 9:50 AM MST reply actions

If so

It isn’t really their fault, Saito’s hurt, and Broxton seems to be a little bit of a headcase thus far.

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by Andrew Martin on Jan 7, 2009 9:57 AM MST up reply actions

also

I know saito was nontendered, the Sox are looking at him.

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by Andrew Martin on Jan 7, 2009 9:58 AM MST up reply actions

Still

I think the Chasing Manny sweepstakes has severely distracted the Dodgers from making worthy additions to their bullpen and starting rotation.

Even if they sign Hoffman, they would only be about the 3rd or 4th best bullpen in the division, as opposed to last year when they were lights out.

Who is there left to sign that could potentially help them all year? Sheets? Garland? Cordero?

by Muzia on Jan 7, 2009 11:37 AM MST up reply actions

Beimel?

I don’t think anyone has picked him up yet…

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by Andrew Martin on Jan 7, 2009 11:39 AM MST up reply actions

The Dodgers pen

could be a real problem. I don’t think Hoff has much left. Kuo is amazing, but he is always hurt. I think he and Brox, when on their games, are devastating. But as noted above, Brox has his meltdowns. Trancoso and Wade are interesting, I assume they’re still around. They’ve got enough arms not to be terrible, but losing Saito and Beimel with no legit replacements is a major concern I think. Especially if Hoff gets the 9th.

by Teekalong on Jan 7, 2009 11:48 AM MST up reply actions

The biggest Loss if Podsednik leaves

Is seriously Lisa Podsednik.

It’s really hard finding a SFW picture of her.

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by Andrew Martin on Jan 7, 2009 11:38 AM MST reply actions

So we get Anna and Kris Benson instead?

"If we never try, we shall never succeed." - Abraham Lincoln

Purple Row - Covering all your Rockies needs!

by Russ Oates on Jan 7, 2009 12:09 PM MST up reply actions

I'd consider that an even trade.

Kris Benson will probably be hurt anyway, so we won’t have to watch him pitch for us.

by Tom (RFTN) on Jan 7, 2009 3:02 PM MST up reply actions

Or

Matt Treanor would be an upgrade over Yorvit. Not quite Dergan’s league, but still

by Andrew T. Fisher on Jan 7, 2009 3:53 PM MST up reply actions

Wow....

she’s got really huge….. hair. And teeth.

Ceci n'est pas une signature.

by DbacksSkins on Jan 9, 2009 10:25 AM MST up reply actions

LAD Bullpen

Don’t worry about the LAD bullpen, it will be fine. Hoffman is still good, not great but good. He’s worth signing to a reasonable one year contract. Dodgers still have live arms in Broxton and Guo and young arms in McDonald, Stults and Elbert. Schmidt could rebound as a reliever and Ramon Troncoso is one of the most underrated relief pitchers in the NL. Relief pitching is a large but not complete crapshoot for the most part. The Dodgers have enough good arms and adding Hoffman for one year, as long as it doesn’t take money away from Manny and a League Average SP, won’t hurt them.
vr, Xei

by Xeifrank on Jan 7, 2009 6:14 PM MST reply actions

I like Troncoso a lot

I agree that he’s an underrated part of your pen. Speaking of which, did you just forget to mention Corey Wade, or do you not see him being a big contributor next year?

by Rox Girl on Jan 7, 2009 6:24 PM MST up reply actions

Hoffman

Leave it to the Rockies fans to comment that by adding Hoffman it destroys the LA bullpen. Quite the opposite, it strengthens the bullpen, as Broxton would pitch the 8th, Kuo the 7th and Wade the 6th or 7th when needed.
They also have McDonald who blew away the top of the Phillies order in the playoffs-small sample-I know, and Elbert.
I think Troncoso, or McDonald, will be the LA 5th starter, as Troncoso is starting in the Dominican league this winter.
I will take 6 headcase Broxton’s in my bullpen anyday. And the guy who said the LA bullpen would be the 3rd or 4th best bullpen in the division?? REALLY? who’s pen is better??

raygu

by Ray Guilfoyle on Jan 7, 2009 8:00 PM MST up reply actions

I actually think McDonald works best in the pen,

Having Troncoso as the starter instead may work out as the best solution for you guys. I don’t know what you would look for to consider a pitcher lucky in any given season, but Hoffman’s 2008 puts up multiple warning flags to me as a lot of his rate stats did things that we haven’t really ever seen from him before, at least not recently. He’s going to wind up having the value of a middle reliever for you, and in that role, maybe he could be useful, but you’ll experience heartache if you use him as a closer for very long, but that said, I disagree with the posters that labeled your pen third or fourth best in the division. Elbert’s still a big question given his lack of an ability to throw strikes, but the rest of your group ~~once Hoffman signs~~ is at least average or above.

Your bullpen is weaker than it was last season though, and while I think it will wind up looking the best on paper heading into 2009, I think the Giants and Rockies can both make arguments that their pens are within range.

by Rox Girl on Jan 7, 2009 8:40 PM MST up reply actions

Elbert

has alot of potential….closer stuff….but he does need to throw more strikes. Last year was his first year coming off the shoulder injury. I am anxious to see how he pitches in 09. Baseball HQ rates his as the LA #1 prospect still….interesting.

raygu

by Ray Guilfoyle on Jan 7, 2009 9:06 PM MST up reply actions

fyi, starting your comment with

“Leave it to the Rockies fans…”

Will put me on troll watch every time. I have no problem with you disagreeing with Rockies fans that post here. I know they will be biased for their team, as am I, and sometimes that bias will spill into an underestimation of the opposition (as you underestimate us, but that’s a different story). But do not ever imply a lack of intelligence in the Rockies fan base when commenting here. What you say on Dodger boards or elsewhere about us is up to , but you’re on our home turf right now, so please be careful with how you phrase things.

by Rox Girl on Jan 7, 2009 8:59 PM MST up reply actions

whoaa Rox

my point is if the Rockies were to sign Hoffman, I am sure the spin would be positive from Rockies fans. I don’t post on the Dodgers sites…well…rarely.
Some of your posters have posted worse in the Saturday thread, imo. I didn’t see a similar comment then. Let’s be fair here.

raygu

by Ray Guilfoyle on Jan 7, 2009 9:04 PM MST up reply actions

I don't know, personally, I wouldn't want Hoffman

And I’d post as such, as he’s going to be getting quite a bit more money than he’ll return in productive value I feel. His GB and K rates went quite a bit higher than what we’d expect given his career arc, and his BABIP and LD% were considerably low. Like I said, I think he got really lucky in 2008 and will come down to earth pretty hard in 2009. Not quite to be a below average pitcher, but enough to make him not really dependable in high leverage situations.

As for the warning, I thought about it, but I couldn’t let the statement slide as it did escalate the tone here and I don’t want a flame war erupting after I go to bed tonight. I couldn’t find anything in Saturday’s thread that implies anything negative against Dodger fans as a class, there were two posts where one user referred to you individually as drinking the Kool-Aid and another expressed admiration for your fanatacism but neither were meant to imply anything other than they perceive a bias from your comments. Maybe I’m misreading it, but “Leave it to Rockies fans…” to me implies a little more than that, either a blanket naivete from us, or alternatively from what you just said:

my point is if the Rockies were to sign Hoffman, I am sure the spin would be positive from Rockies fans.

would be a blanket accusation of hypocrisy. Clearly you are also implying an individual hypocrisy on my part in saying I didn’t enforce Saturday’s thread, but I don’t mind that (I’m here to defend myself) as much as the blanket statements putting all Rockies fans into the same basket.

by Rox Girl on Jan 7, 2009 9:31 PM MST up reply actions

Thanks for the Troll warning...

I don’t want a flame war erupting after I go to bed tonight.

Brandi, you are like the Row’s own personal Tucks medicated pad, here to prevent the burning and itching of minor troll flare-ups.

Keepin' warm by the hot stove season.

by Charlie77 on Jan 7, 2009 10:14 PM MST up reply actions

Apprently you haven't been reading

Purple Row on our block buster pitching pick ups like the Viz, or the Gas Can or even our latest….Jason (I’m the highest paid Rockies pitcher) Marquis.

Thought Clint Hurdle should be fired before it was cool.

by Redhawk on Jan 7, 2009 9:38 PM MST up reply actions

I saw Hoffman's last save in San Diego...

He went 3 up 3 down and his breaking ball was rolling off the table. Pretty good for his 30th save of the season. Who knows if he will make it through next year however.

Keepin' warm by the hot stove season.

by Charlie77 on Jan 7, 2009 10:05 PM MST up reply actions

Apparently

Hoffman has decided to move to the Mid-West as he has picked the Brewers instead of the Dodgers according to this.

"People ask me what I do in winter when there's no baseball. I'll tell you what I do. I stare out the window and wait for spring." ~Rogers Hornsby
JFK

by jrockies on Jan 8, 2009 2:35 PM MST reply actions