Rickey's Back - Reserve Role for the Dodgers

[Zeno]

Below is part of an Article from the ESPN website.


“Desperate for offensive help, the Los Angeles Dodgers signed the 44-year-old future Hall of Famer and acquired slugging outfielder Jeromy Burnitz from the New York Mets on Monday.

Henderson, who had been playing for the Newark Bears of the independent Atlantic League, figures to be used mainly in a reserve role.

"With Rickey, we're gaining a player who understands what it takes to win at the major league level and we feel he will be a valuable addition to our team,'' Evans said.

Henderson is baseball's career leader in runs (2,288), stolen bases (1,403) and walks (2,179) and becomes the active leader in hits (3,040). He will be appearing in his 25th major league season and be playing with his ninth team.

Henderson hit .339 with a .591 slugging percentage for Newark. The 10-time major league All-Star was recently chosen the MVP of the Atlantic League All-Star game.
In 56 games with the Bears, Henderson had eight homers, 33 RBI, 52 runs scored and nine stolen bases.

The Dodgers (49-44) are in third place in the NL West, 7½ games behind first-place San Francisco, despite a 3.06 team ERA -- almost a half-run lower than any other team in the big leagues.

But they're last in the NL with a .244 batting average and 328 runs. Their 59 homers are the fewest in the majors.”

Perhaps Rickey will take Mr. Green’s place?

-Zeno

[Sooga]

You forgot to mention they also added Jeremy Burnitz. Just what the Dodgers need, another underachieving baseball player. God I hate the Dodgers.

[IrishHand]

Burnitz has averaged 30 HR a year over the past 7 years, which places him in the top 20 in the majors over that time span. Indeed, that's some serious underachieving - assuming you believe he's the 2nd coming of McGwire. Who else on the Dodgers would you like to label an "underachieving baseball player"?

[IrishHand]

I've thought for the past 3-4 years that a team with sense should sign Rickey on the cheap and then stick him in the OF and lead him off for as many of the 162 games as possible. The lowest OBP he's sported over that time has been .362 - far better than 1/2 the leadoff hitters in the bigs. So what if he hits .230? The man's going to get on base at a .380 clip and is still a disruptive influence once he's there. I'm not sure how you can justify playing (and paying) clowns like Roger Cedeno, Tony Womack, etc.

[Zeno]

Rickey played for the Mariners for the later part of a season (2001?) and I was disappointed when they let him go. He is very valuable, as you pointed out, especially with his high OBP. The Dodgers are making a smart move, getting both Rickey and that other guy, from the Mets. What's his face? /forums/images/icons/grin.gif

-Zeno

[Sooga]

Ah the power of numbers. He hit the bulk of those homers in Milwaukee, which is a fairly good hitter's park. And if a .250 career average isn't underachieving, frankly I don't know what is. He had one of the WORST full seasons in recent major league history last year, and even though he's doing well this year, he's 34, and his best years are way behind him. Now that he's going to be playing half his home games in one of the best pitcher's parks in baseball, his numbers will crash and burn.

As for asking who's underachieving on the Dodgers, I hope you meant that as a joke. To call that offense anemic is an insult to anemia. During their past 20 games (of which they lost 15), they've scored just over 60 runs, and that's including the 18 runs they were able to manage in 3 games in Colorado. Underachievers? Shawn Green, .745 ops. Paul LoDuca, .811 (the ONLY dodger hitting worth a damn). Cesar Izturis, .592(!). Adrian Beltre, .642. Alex Cora, .600. Why do I mention those 5? Because they have the top 5 AB's on that team even with OPS's that low. Like I said before, Dodger Stadium is a very very good pitcher's park, but this is ridiculous. You want underachievers, pick anyone in that lineup (outside of LoDuca).

[IrishHand]

-Shawn Green's career is littered with poor 1st halves - I'm not too concerned. He'll finish with 30+ HR and 100+ RBI.
-Cezar Isturis is a defensive specialist with zero offensive skills. Hitting .220 is par for the course for him.
-Adrian Beltre is a decidedly mediocre 3B and has been demonstrating that for years. People only call him an underachiever because of his .290, 20HR year at age 21.
-Alex Cora is a defensive specialist... (repeat Izturis comments).

The Dodgers aren't offensive underachievers. They just don't have many good offensive players. Sure, the park plays some part in that, but it's mostly due to a lack of productive hitters. Are Burnitz and Rickey the solution? Probably not - but they'll help.

It makes me laugh that, according to you, Burnitz is an underachiever because (a) he hits for a low average and (b) he had a below-average year last year. As for (a) - he's a .250 hitter...that's not underachieving, that's being a .250 hitter. As for his 2002 season, he most certainly did underachieve - last year. This year, he's hit very well thus far (.274, 18 HR, 45 RBI despite a trip to the DL). As noted in my above post, Burnitz has spent his career demonstrating that he's a consistent 30 HR, 100 RBI performer and he's on pace for that this season. I'm not sure why you insist in denigrating him unless you're a bitter Mets fan.

[Sooga]

To me, underachieving means playing below one's capability. And if you're taking up a spot on a major league roster, then you should certainly be capable of hitting at least in the .260 range, especially if you bring nothing else to the table (ok, maybe a little speed) offensively. Being limited offensively is one thing. Being completely useless offensively like Izturis and Cora is something else totally.

As for Burnitz, I never claimed that he should be in AAA or that he's a bad player. He's just not gonna do much for the Dodgers. As I heard on some sports show yesterday, Burnitz is just 'a guy'. I'm not a bitter Mets fan, Burnitz is just not going to turn the Dodgers' fortunes around.